I've looked on the net but haven't found any pictures so far. A sure sign of cyclamen mite is when episcias stop growing and all stolons stop growing as well. The newest leaves dry up, get crusty and brown. Gradually the dead leaves spread backward from the newest growth and eventually the whole plant dies, or all the foliage dies and the stem will survive if treatment comes in time.

Another way to tell if you had mites is if a single spraying with Avid causes an immediate turn around and the plants start showing new growth in the form of growth buds breaking from the stems. If mites are caught early they will not kill the growth bud but disfigure the new leaves. Usually episcias will quickly grow out of mite damage.

Jon

I will be getting my avid this week. I'm doing the episcia dance...la...la...la!

Nancy

Sometimes getting a new insecticide is a lot more exciting than getting a whole box of new plants! Enjoy the irony of all that.

Jon

This isn't an episcia but maybe it will help.

Linda

Here is a link that might be useful: Cyclamen Mite Damage

I thought I had mites and sprayed with kelthane and now everything looks worse. :(

Linda,

The picture they showed with an African violet with cyclamen mite...I would never have diagnosed it with mite.

I guess they are right because it's from a university but it looks more like soil mealy bug from the fact that the plant is in a collapsed state. The plant also has a fuzziness look about it.

Mite always has its first effect in the center young tender leaves although some AVs are affected in different ways such as change of color, leaves curled or sticking out at an angle (unlike this picture). Most mite attacks I've seen leave the plant in a very turgid pose with leaves stiff but crunched up.

I've never seen mite causing a plant to look like this.

Nancy in Montreal

My kohleria and episcia blossoms sometimes open with brown discolored areas. When I pull the bloom off and tap it over my palm, these little crawly bugs drop out. They're brown, maybe a millimeter long, visible to the named eye. I've gotten some control with orthene powder. Someone recommended conserve. I occasionally use Avid but I'm not sure it affects these things. Anyone know what they are and how to get rid of them? tx.

My guess would be thrips. Both AVID and Conserve are good for getting rid of them. But you need to be consistent. Yoiu need to disbud ALL your plants and spray ALL your plants 3 times 1 week apart. Otherwise they will return.

You can search on thrips on the net - and a lot of extention offices have the description of a thrips life cycle.

Looks like new generation of systemic miticide/insectisides for spraying (Judo, Pylon etc.) takes care of them in one shot - but these are prohibitively expensive. So unless the club buys for the group of people - you need to stick to the ones you mentioned and do the deed 3 times.

Systemic for soil doesn't help too much - they feed on pollen and petals - and the concentration of Bonide or Marathon is just not enough so high above the roots to get them.

Good luck

irina