Saturday, November 14, 2009

What type of beetle looking bug is infesting my gardenia?

the bug hides on the branches and underside of leaves. it is kinda big yet hard to spot as its color blends in with the branch. It chews the leaves and the blooms are dying quickly. It is not shiny like some other beetles. I cant find it in google images. I am in North Carolina if this matters. Please help

What type of beetle looking bug is infesting my gardenia?
Could well be Scale insect and/or mealy bug........... Scale is commonly found along the stem and on the back of the leaves. Mealy bugs tend to hide among leaf nodes. Treat scale with PestOil. Follow up applications may be necessary.The presence of these insects also suggests the plant is under stress. Make sure it is well watered and correctly fertilised.
Reply:GARDENIA PROBLEMS ::





Diseases ::





Probably the most serious gardenia disease is stem canker, which occurs on the main stem at the soil line. Fortunately, this disease is not too common in Florida. Stem canker is distinguished by rough, cracked areas that form cankerous growths near the soil line. The disease organism enters the plant through wounds, so every precaution should be taken to prevent damage to stems. Destroy any infected plants to prevent infection of other gardenias. No fungicides are available to control the disease.


"Sooty mold," an organism that looks like a disease, often occurs on the foliage turning it black. This black, smut-like substance does not injure foliage but prevents sunlight from reaching the leaf, thereby reducing photosynthesis. The organism is not parasitic but lives on honeydew secreted by sucking insects such as aphids, scales, mealybugs and whiteflies. Sooty mold can be managed best by controlling these insects.








Insects


Many insect pests attack gardenias in Florida and can be troublesome unless proper control methods are used. The most injurious insects include scales, aphids, spider mites, thrips and whiteflies.


Scale insects include cottony cushion, Florida wax, soft brown scale and others. These insects attach themselves to host plants after hatching and give stems or leaves a lumpy appearance. Scale insects are difficult to control especially as they mature.





Spider mites can cause considerable damage especially during hot, dry periods. These small pests feed primarily on the underside of the foliage, causing colorless or whitish spots. Therefore, considerable injury usually has occurred when the homeowner notices the damage. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Office for the most recent recommendations on insect control.








Nematodes


Nematodes are among the most serious gardenia pests in Florida. Nematodes are microscopic, parasitic roundworms that live in and feed on gardenia roots. Although many kinds may affect gardenias, root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne species) are the most common. Fortunately, the symptoms they cause are readily recognized: premature wilting, low vigor, thin canopy, and leaf and/or bloom loss under relatively mild stress. Roots infected by root-knot nematodes are swollen and gnarled (the overgrown tissues are usually called galls or knots). They often deteriorate prematurely because fungi readily attack the tender tissues that the plant produces in response to the infection.


In south Florida, gardenias are usually grafted on Gardenia thunbergia rootstock, which resists root-knot nematode attacks. This rootstock is considered too cold-sensitive for landscape use in north Florida, so flowering gardenias (G. jasminoides) are propagated on their own roots. No chemical treatments are available for nematode control in landscape plantings. The best practices to minimize effects of root-knot nematodes are to use the resistant rootstock where it is well adapted and apply organic matter liberally to the soil. The latter encourages natural enemies of the nematodes and provides gardenia roots with a better physical and chemical environment.








Bud Drop


One of the most difficult problems in gardenia culture is bud drop or bloom failure. Causes include root injury, insect damage, and unfavorable weather conditions.


Root injury may occur because of nematode infestations, poor watering practices, poorly drained soils, excessive fertilization or mechanical injury.








An excessive number of nematodes in the soil often damages roots and prevents normal uptake of water and nutrients.





Poorly drained, wet soils, or excessive watering excludes oxygen, thereby causing root injury.





Too much fertilizer adds excessive soluble salts and can cause root-system dehydration. It is important, therefore, to follow fertilizer recommendations.





Mechanical injury to root systems occurs most often during transplanting so be careful. Always plant gardenias at the same depth as they grew in the nursery. Don't transplant while they are in bud unless flowers are unimportant.





Insects damage unopened buds, causing them to drop. Thrips and aphids are most troublesome. Usually pear-shaped aphids are visible but tiny thrips can go undetected until they cause considerable damage.


During excessively hot, dry weather bud drop is prevalent because the plant cannot absorb water rapidly enough to compensate for water loss through transpiration. Maintenance of adequate soil moisture and frequent light syringing aids in reducing water loss and bud drop under such conditions. Gardenias may also experience bud drop following a rapid drop in temperature, even if the temperature does not reach freezing.
Reply:Do you have a pic of it? I can get it ided if you can send one.


It is true that scale and mealy love gardenia, but they are sucking bugs and if you have holes in the leaves, you have a cheweing bug. Where you live there are many types of beetles the will infest gardenias.


If we can id will be able to help you with control.


No comments:

Post a Comment