What are the common pests of potted flowers? A detailed introduction to pest morphology

In flower cultivation, what gardeners worry about most is pests. The breeding of pests not only harms the flowers but also damages the growing environment, and in severe cases can even cause the death of large numbers of flowers. To help everyone understand these pests, the editor of Huinong Network specifically introduces their morphological characteristics here.

The main pests that harm flowers include aphids, scale insects, longhorn beetles, butterflies and moths, and others:

1. Aphids

There are many kinds of aphids. In taxonomy they belong to the order Homoptera, superfamily Aphidoidea. Aphids mostly occur on plant buds, tender stems or tender leaves, sucking the plant's sap, causing the damaged parts to fade and turn yellow, resulting in poor plant nutrition, organ wilting or curling and deformity, and even the whole plant withering and dying. Besides directly causing damage, aphids are also vectors of many viruses. Systemic insecticides can be used for spraying or root drenching to control them.

2. Scale insects

There are many kinds of scale insects with special morphology. In taxonomy they belong to the order Homoptera, suborder Coccoidea. Scale insects mostly occur on plant leaves, branches or stems, sucking the plant's sap, causing the damaged parts to fade and turn yellow, resulting in poor plant nutrition, wilting, and even the whole plant withering and dying. Besides directly causing damage, scale insects are also vectors of many viruses. Systemic insecticides can be used for spraying or root drenching to control them.

3. Longhorn beetles

There are relatively many kinds of longhorn beetles. In taxonomy they belong to the order Coleoptera, superfamily Cerambycoidea. Adults are active during the day, feeding on plant leaves, bark and pollen. Most larvae bore into the plant's stems or roots, tunneling into the xylem and making irregular galleries; the holes of the galleries open to the outside of the plant's stems or roots, discharging frass and wood shavings, which is an important clue for detecting stem-boring pests. After longhorn beetles bore into the plant's xylem, they seriously affect the plant's growth, often causing branches, trunks or stems to break or die, and even causing the whole plant to die. Systemic insecticides can be used for root drenching to control them, or they can be caught and killed by hand.

4. Butterflies and moths

There are many kinds of butterflies and moths, small to medium in size, brilliantly colored. In taxonomy they belong to the order Lepidoptera. Adults vary greatly in color, some very beautiful, their bodies densely covered with flat, tiny scales that form patterns of different colors. Larvae often harm plant leaves, flowers, fruits, stems and roots, causing notches, curling and leaf mines on leaves and flowers, and notches and holes on stems, fruits and roots, affecting the plant's growth and ornamental value, especially the ornamental value of flowering plants. The pest shown in the picture is the white moth. Contact insecticides can be used for spraying to control them, or they can be caught and killed by hand.

5. The "invisible" mites

When it comes to mites, everyone has probably heard their names, such as the Demodex mites that parasitize human skin, the dust mites that live in the air or on pillows and bedding, and the flour mites in flour, but few know what they look like, because they are very small and hard to see unless you pay attention; generally a magnifying glass is needed to observe them. Mites often cause damage on the undersides of plant leaves. In the early stage of damage, chlorotic spots appear on the leaves, later causing chlorotic blotches, the whole leaf turning yellow and curling and deforming, and in severe cases causing leaves to drop. The species that harm flowers include spider mites (red, commonly known as red spiders, such as Tetranychus cinnabarinus and Panonychus citri), tenuipalpid mites (yellow, red, such as Brevipalpus), and tarsonemid mites (white, such as Polyphagotarsonemus latus).

The above is the introduction to the morphology of common flower cultivation pests compiled by the editor of Huinong Network. Gardeners should pay close attention to these pests and control them early.

What are the common pests of household flower cultivation? Common flower pest control methods

  The common pests of household flower cultivation include aphids, mosquitoes and flies (fungus gnats), and whiteflies, which not only adversely affect the ornamental value of flowers but also seriously threaten the healthy growth of flowers. There are mainly two methods for flower pest control: one is catching and killing, mainly for pests that are relatively large and few in number; the other is chemical control, mainly for pests with chewing mouthparts, such as scarab beetles and larvae of Lepidoptera.

  1. Aphids

  Damage symptoms: Aphids are a kind of small green-yellow insect that often cluster densely on new shoots or flower buds of Chinese rose, pomegranate, chrysanthemum and others, using their mouthparts to suck sap, thereby causing tender leaves to curl and shrink; in severe cases affecting growth and flowering, causing plant leaves to curl and wither, and producing galls and spreading viral diseases.

  Control methods: Use tobacco water (50 times dilution) or soapy water to smear the leaves several times in succession; spray with 25% rotenone 800-1000 times dilution, 40% omethoate 2000 times dilution, 3% natural pyrethrin 1000 times dilution, and deltamethrin 2000-3000 times dilution and other insecticides for control.

  2. Red spider mites

  Damage symptoms: Mainly harm azaleas, Chinese rose, scarlet sage, crabapple, cactus, Sabina chinensis and others, sucking sap with piercing-sucking mouthparts to damage the plants, causing yellow-white small spots on the leaves, and even causing the leaves to scorch or drop.

  Control methods: Remove weeds in the pots and eliminate overwintering eggs; improve ventilation conditions and lower the temperature; for chemical control, use acaricides such as diafenthiuron, abamectin, pyridaben, fenpropathrin, amitraz, dicofol or omethoate 100 times dilution, spraying alternately on the leaves at the initial stage of red spider mite occurrence for control.

  3. Mosquitoes and flies (fungus gnats)

  Flowers harmed: Commonly seen in potted flower cultivation or herbaceous flower seedling raising, such as poinsettia, cyclamen and pansy.

  Control methods: Use pesticides such as Huifu, Huijian and abamectin, applied by root drenching to control mosquito and fly larvae.

  4. Thrips

  Mainly harm anthurium, cyclamen, rose, carnation, lisianthus and many other flowers. Thrips often rasp and suck sap on the undersides of tender leaves and in flower organs, causing the damaged leaves to curl, turn yellow, become brittle and drop.

  Control methods: Integrated control using physical, chemical and biological methods can be adopted; chemical control uses pesticides such as Huijian, lufenuron, Huijian + Kung Fu, abamectin and spinosad by spraying.

  5. Scale insects

  Damage symptoms: The main species of scale insects include mealybugs, red wax scales, and cottony cushion scales. They mainly cluster and parasitize on the tender stems and leaves of plants, inserting piercing-sucking mouthparts into plant tissues to suck sap. They are one of the common pests of indoor foliage plants.

  Control methods: Manual control: use a brush to brush off the insect bodies and then rinse clean with water; chemical control: carry out at the peak hatching period of nymphs before the waxy scale cover has formed on the insect bodies, choosing isocarbophos 1000 times dilution, 20% fenvalerate 1500-2000 times dilution, 40% omethoate 800-1000 times dilution and others for spraying control.

  6. Whiteflies

  Damage symptoms: Whiteflies are widely distributed and harm many kinds of flowers. Whiteflies are small and white; the mouthparts of adults and larvae are inserted from the underside of leaves to suck sap, causing the leaves to turn yellow and withered, and at the same time excreting honeydew on the leaves, which triggers sooty mold.

  Control methods: Spray with 2.5% deltamethrin, 20% fenvalerate 1500-2000 times dilution and pyrethroid pesticides to control nymphs, adults and eggs, spraying once every 7 days, and 3-4 consecutive sprays will suffice.

  7. Underground pests such as nematodes and white grubs

  Damage symptoms: Mainly bite and feed on plant roots and tender stems underground, causing roots and stems to rot and the plant to die.

  Control methods: Use steam or chemicals to disinfect the soil; use food mixed with trichlorfon as bait to trap and kill them; drench the plants with 90% trichlorfon 1000 times dilution; catch and kill by hand.

  8. Snails

  Damage symptoms: Snails mainly harm plant leaves, tender stems and roots, causing the plant's branches and leaves to be incomplete, affecting the plant's growth and ornamental value, and in severe cases even causing the plant to die.

  Control methods: Scatter food mixed with trichlorfon in places where snails are frequently active to trap and kill them; spray the area around the plants with trichlorfon or deltamethrin 1500-2000 times dilution; scatter 8% metaldehyde granules around the roots in the soil to kill snails.

What are the pests and diseases of household flowers? A summary of common household flower pest and disease types and control measures

Household flower cultivation is currently a way for people to cultivate their character. It is understood that the vast majority of people in our country grow greenery at home, because it can cultivate character and also purify the air. However, during cultivation, diseases and pests may also be encountered. Below, the editor will tell everyone about the common types of household flower diseases and control methods for your reference.

1. Main flower pests and control methods

1. Scale insects

Common ones include red wax scale, horned wax scale, chaff scale, rose white scale, and wide soft scale. They harm many woody flowers such as azaleas and Chinese rose. Nymphs mostly cluster on tender branches and the undersides of leaves, piercing and sucking sap, causing new shoots to become deformed and leaves to fall early, while also inducing sooty mold.

Control methods: Cut off infested branches and burn them, and protect natural enemies. Spray 10-15 times dilution rosin mixture once in winter. Spray 3-5 degrees Baume lime sulfur mixture once in early spring. During the growing season, spray 90% crystal trichlorfon 500 times dilution or 50% malathion emulsion 1000-1500 times dilution 2-3 times every 7-10 days.

2. Aphids

Common aphids include green peach aphid, cotton aphid, chrysanthemum aphid and rose aphid. Females and nymphs cluster on tender shoot tips and the undersides of leaves to suck sap and cause damage; the damaged leaves shrivel, and they also induce sooty mold.

Control methods: Protect natural enemies (ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies, etc.), use biological control. Or use yellow sticky traps to trap and kill them.

3. Spider mites

Common ones include red spider mite, bulb mite, and two-spotted spider mite. They harm many kinds of flowers. The damaged leaves lose green color, spots appear, and the leaves curl and shrivel; in severe cases the leaves scorch and drop.

Control methods:

(1) Natural enemies. There are many kinds of natural enemies of pests. During the planting process, natural enemies can be used for control. The main natural enemies include Stethorus punctillum, Stethorus siphonulus, Harmonia axyridis, large and small lacewings, Orius minutus, and phytoseiid mites, which play a positive role in controlling pest population numbers.

(2) Chemical control. Use fenbutatin oxide + pyridaben EC (such as Guoguang Hongsha) 1000 times dilution or 10% fenbutatin oxide + pyridaben EC (such as Guoguang Hongsha) 1000 times dilution + 5.7% emamectin benzoate EC (such as Guoguang Leke) 3000 times dilution mixed and sprayed for control. It is recommended to use twice in succession with an interval of 7-10 days.

(3) If the situation is severe, Guoguang Hongsha can be used (recommended and effective). According to different pest situations, dilute with water and spray to kill. Observe every half month; if there are still many red spider mites, continue.

(4) If there are few red spider mites, they can be pinched to death with tweezers, and the leaves rinsed with clean water. If conditions permit, the soil can be replaced to prevent eggs from being overlooked.

4. Whiteflies

Common ones include greenhouse whitefly and citrus whitefly. Adults and larvae cluster on the undersides of leaves, sucking sap; when damage is severe, the leaves fade and dry up, while also inducing sooty mold.

Control methods: Use yellow sticky boards to trap and kill, spray 2.5% deltamethrin, 20% fenvalerate 2000 times dilution.

2. Root pests

1. Cutworms

Mainly harm the seedlings of many herbaceous flowers such as chrysanthemum and carnation.

Control methods: Poison bait trapping and killing; mix 90% trichlorfon with wheat bran or soybean cake powder at a ratio of 1:50, stir evenly, and scatter around the roots of seedlings in the evening to kill larvae.

2. Snails

Mainly harm many greenhouse flowers such as cyclamen and cineraria.

Control methods: Scatter a thin layer of carbaryl powder at the bottom of the pots of affected plants or apply pesticide for control.

3. Moths

1. Slug moths

Common ones include yellow slug moth, flat slug moth, and mulberry brown slug moth. They mainly feed on the leaves of many woody flowers such as wintersweet and Chinese rose, causing holes or eating the leaf mesophyll until only the veins remain.

Control methods: 90% crystal trichlorfon 1000 times dilution, or pyrethroid pesticides 3000 times dilution.

2. Noctuid moths

Common ones include tobacco cutworm and silver-striped noctuid. They mainly harm many flowers such as Chinese rose, lily, cyclamen, chrysanthemum and carnation. Newly hatched larvae cluster on the undersides of leaves to feed on leaf mesophyll, and after the 3rd instar they feed on tender leaves, making holes.

Control methods: Use black light lamps to trap and kill adults, protect natural enemies (Trichogramma, spiders), and spray Haizheng dilution.

4. Main flower diseases and control methods

1. Powdery mildew

Also called powdery mold disease. It harms Chinese rose, rose, Euonymus japonicus, kumquat and others. It often infects the leaves, stems and flower stalks of flowers. When it occurs, a layer of white powder appears on the surface of the affected area, and in severe cases the leaves wither. It often occurs in hot, humid and poorly ventilated places.

Control methods: Spray with Triadimefon or thiophanate-methyl, carbendazim, chlorothalonil (75% wettable powder) and other chemicals.

2. Southern blight

It harms Chinese rose, jasmine, clivia, small pomegranate, Aucuba japonica, orchid, chrysanthemum and others. When the disease occurs, the base turns brown and rots, and in severe cases turns yellow to brown, like rapeseed.

Control methods: Disinfect the potting soil before use, keep the growing environment ventilated, and promptly prune away diseased branches.

3. Rust disease

Occurs between July and August, often harming the leaves of grape, woody crabapple, goji berry, chrysanthemum and others. The surface of damaged leaves initially shows yellow-green spots, and the undersides of the leaves are densely covered with orange-yellow powder. Afterwards, dark brown polygonal small spots appear around the diseased spots. The spots mostly appear near the leaf veins and near the leaf margins. The disease starts from the lower leaves and gradually spreads to the upper leaves.

Control methods: In late autumn, clean up fallen leaves and burn them. Spray 4-5 times throughout the year; spraying in July-August is most effective.

4. Damping-off

Also called seedling blight. It occurs in high-temperature and humid environments. Flowers initially show scorch-like, water-soaked rot at the root and stem base, yellow-brown in color, and later the affected part softens and the plant falls over and dies. The pathogen comes from fungi in the soil and spreads very quickly.

Control methods: Wood ash can be scattered on the surface of the potting soil for prevention, or amobam 1500 times dilution can be used for drenching, once every 7-10 days, to control its spread.

5. Leaf spot disease

Also called black spot and brown spot. It does more harm to Chinese rose, camellia, azalea, rose, chrysanthemum and others. When the disease occurs, black spots appear in the middle of the leaves, and then the leaves turn yellow and drop. This disease is mostly caused by a hot, stuffy and humid environment.

Control methods: Pay attention to improving environmental conditions. At the initial stage of the disease, the damaged leaves can be picked off and burned. Spray carbendazim 8000 times dilution 2-3 times every 7-10 days.

6. Anthracnose

It commonly harms Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium faberi, Cymbidium ensifolium, Cymbidium sinense, clivia and other flowers. At the initial stage, round or semicircular red-brown spots appear on the leaves, later turning dark brown, sometimes with a yellow halo at the edges; in the later stage the lesions become gray-white.

Control methods: Do not pour water directly over the top when watering; do not place potted flowers too densely; the placement site should be well lit and ventilated. After discovering the disease, promptly cut off diseased leaves. For chemical control, carbendazim wettable powder dilution can be used for control.

7. Sooty mold

This disease is most likely to occur in a hot, stuffy, poorly ventilated environment or one filled with coal smoke. At the beginning, dark brown sooty stains appear on the leaf surface of diseased plants, then spread. It mostly harms perennial evergreen woody flowers such as Magnolia grandiflora, camellia, sasanqua, and Chinese ivy, and can also infect chrysanthemum, Chinese rose and others, producing a black sooty mold layer.

Control methods: For a small amount at the beginning, wipe off the sooty stains with water or alcohol, or cut off diseased leaves; in severe cases spray carbendazim or Bordeaux mixture.

8. Brown spot disease

Main symptoms: In the early stage, pale yellow to purple-brown lesions appear on the leaves; in the later stage the lesions expand and turn black; in severe cases the whole leaf turns black and dies.

Control methods: Spray 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder 500 times dilution.

9. Downy mildew

Main symptoms: In the early stage, irregular chlorotic spots appear on the leaf surface; in the later stage the lesions expand, becoming polygonal and yellow-brown, with a white mold layer growing on the underside of the spots.

Control methods: Metalaxyl wettable powder 300 times dilution or 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder 800 times dilution.

10. Mosaic disease

Main symptoms: In the early stage, small shiny chlorotic line-shaped spots appear on the leaves; in the later stage the lesions expand, causing the leaves to dry up, the plant to grow poorly, and no flowers or small green flowers to form.

Control methods: Because it is caused by virus infection, promptly pull out and destroy diseased plants, and regularly spray to control aphids to reduce disease transmission.

11. Chlorosis

Main symptoms: The leaf mesophyll at the top of the plant generally turns yellow, while the veins remain green; in severe cases causing the plant to grow weakly and become stunted.

Control methods: Improve the soil to prevent salinity and alkalinity, keep the soil slightly acidic, and spray 0.5% ferrous sulfate or iron chelate on plants that have already turned yellow for control.

12. Sclerotinia rot

Main symptoms: In the early stage it first invades the leaf sheath, producing light brown lesions; in the later stage it invades the stem and bulb, causing rot and the appearance of black particles.

Control methods: Spray 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder 1500 times dilution.

13. Root nodule disease

Main symptoms: Nodule-like growths form at the site where the bulbils form, and affected plants grow poorly.

Control methods: Remove diseased plants, and disinfect the affected area with quicklime.

Diseases in household flower planting are common occurrences. The above are detailed disease types and control methods. Everyone should quickly learn about them so as to prevent them as early as possible and reduce the probability of disease occurrence.