How to Diagnose and Control Cottony Cushion Scale on Clivia

Colorful clivia is a flower with relatively strong pest resistance, and most pests do it little harm, so they are not covered here. At present, only a few pests are commonly encountered in cultivation and care, one of which is called "cottony cushion scale," also known as cotton insect. The female is 3mm long, orange-red inside the body, with white powder on the body surface, degenerate mouthparts, and two fleshy protrusions at the end of the abdomen, on which several long hairs grow. The male body is orange-yellow, flat and oval. Generally, larvae and females mostly parasitize the pseudobulbs, the undersides of leaves, or the folds of colorful clivia. This pest does great harm to colorful clivia and can occur in all four seasons, being especially severe in spring, summer, and autumn. Because the greenhouse has poor ventilation, high temperatures, and high humidity in summer, these conditions are most suitable for the breeding and reproduction of "cottony cushion scale." "Cottony cushion scale" mainly harms the pseudobulbs and leaves, sucking the sap from inside the plant through its mouthparts. At first it parasitizes only at the pseudobulbs, and in severe cases it spreads to all parts of the leaves. If the insects are not eliminated in time, the plant body will gradually weaken, affecting the plant's normal growth and development.

Control methods:

Once this pest is found, in mild cases you can use gauze dipped in soapy water to gently wipe away the scale insects' bodies, and at the same time ventilate to lower the indoor temperature and humidity and increase the temperature difference between day and night. This can not only prevent and control the occurrence of this pest, but also benefit the plant's growth and reduce other diseases. For chemical treatment, Baizhitu can be used to kill the insects and prevent them. For plants that already have the pest, first wipe away the insect bodies with gauze, then sprinkle Baizhitu insecticide. For plants that do not yet have the pest, Baizhitu insecticide can also be sprinkled into the gaps of the pseudobulbs to provide preventive and control effects; "Huawei No. 1" pesticide can also be used, sprayed 1~2 times at a concentration of 1500 times, with very good treatment and prevention results.