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I use pyrethrum spray made from feverfew flowers mixed with dish soap. Feverfew is safe and not toxic to mammals. The plant itself can be companion planted with all citrus to help keep ants and bugs away. The flowers can be got at most nurseries or sown from seed. It is a pretty little white daisy with yellow centers that grows to about 2 feet tall and has pungent leaves.
Try Neem oil. That will keep them from breathing, they'll smother to death.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheDragonslayer
I use pyrethrum spray made from feverfew flowers mixed with dish soap. Feverfew is safe and not toxic to mammals. The plant itself can be companion planted with all citrus to help keep ants and bugs away. The flowers can be got at most nurseries or sown from seed. It is a pretty little white daisy with yellow centers that grows to about 2 feet tall and has pungent leaves.
Thanks. I've tried rubbing orange skin peels on the tree trunk and spread them at the base of plants. It did scare away the ants but did not stop "Bob Mealy" from spreading.
Yes, there are a couple of home pesticide sprays specifically for citrus scale and mealybug. Work well. Here in the Seattle area, I can find them at Home Depot and similar big boxes.
I tried straight neem oil, but it didn't work as well as the more specialized spray. These things are *hard* to control, and you must keep after them.
Believe me, using a commercial pesticide is something I avoid like the plague, but in this case...
The bad news is that these mealy bugs can defoliate your tree in short order, and their "honeydew" - excrement - makes a sticky goo that will attract ants and invite black mildew. If you don't get a handle on the infestation, they will kill your tree. The good news is that if you follow the instructions on the spray bottle religiously, your tree will recover completely.
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