Being defeated by mealybugs

12 years ago

My mandevilla vine was once flourishing and growing fast, but now it's infested with mealybugs. We have tried everything... a mixture spray of dish soap and water, organic insecticides, and even the chemical ones. Nothing seems to be working on these incredibly frustrating pests. They just keep returning, and I suspect they might be multiplying in the roots (as read somewhere else on this forum). I just don't know what to do. I have not tried the q-tip method, but have real doubts that this would work because I have tried 3 other methods so far without success, and doubt a q-tip would defeat them.

My plant is on the verge of dying, and it's beautiful leaves have thinned out so much that it looks nowhere near like the plant we brought home just 2 months ago. Its growth has stopped and half of it is just brown and yellow leaves. The problem is the mealy bugs have attached themselves to the thickest parts of its twisted vines (we are letting it wrap around one of our posts), and they are just in impossible places even if we were to go at it with a q-tip, we would have to unwrap all of its vines. At this point, should I even bother keeping this plant? I really do not want to throw it out, after all the hard work we put towards planting it and training it to the pole, not to mention it was not a cheap plant (for me).

Please, someone, help me! I'm drowning here in mealybugs... haha.

Thanks.

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Comments (2)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
12 years ago
Root mealies are different from the ones found on the upper portions of the plant.

Let me toss this out to you. Mandevilla is one of the favorite hosts of cottony cushion scale insects. Are you certain of the ID of your pest?

Also, can we see images of how bad the infestation is? That would enable me to help with an ID, but also determine if the pests are responsible for the sad condition of your plant or something cultural.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
well.. this is a first.. your pic is proper .. but when i click on it for a close up ... that is crooked.. whats that all about ...

who made the diagnosis ... can we confirm such ...

it does not look to me like its dying ... too much drama there...

its a recent transplant.. it looks like transplant shock to me.. having only been there 2 months ...

the soil looks very dry ... stressed plants are subject to invasions of bugs.. i dont know how the bugs know.. but they always find them ...

increase water .. but do it properly ... you probably have sand.. and couldnt drown it.. if you tried.. but dont drown it ...

and get us a pic of the culprits...

also ... how does the sun move across the pavement. and wall.. could it be cooking in high heat???

if you could remove the grass for at least two feet and mulch properly.. that would really help ...

i suspect.. your expectations are a bit high.. for a brand new plant .... if it lived year one.. i would be happy ....

after 3 treatments.. i am loathe to recommend more.. until we confirm the bug ID ...

ken

ps: plants near death.. usually dont flower with such vigor ....
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