Symptoms
Curled or yellowing leaves, sticky honeydew residue, stunted growth. Colonies visible on undersides of leaves and new shoots.
Prevention
Encourage natural predators (ladybugs, lacewings). Use reflective mulch. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer. Inspect new plants before introducing to garden.
Treatment
Organic
Spray neem oil (1-2%). Apply insecticidal soap. Use strong water spray to dislodge colonies. Introduce parasitic wasps.
Chemical (last resort)
Apply imidacloprid or acetamiprid as last resort. Follow label instructions for edible crops. Observe pre-harvest interval (PHI).
Affects 47 crops
- Arugula
- Beetroot
- Bell Pepper
- Bird's Eye Chili
- Bitter Gourd
- Bok Choy
- Calamansi
- Carrot
- Cherry Tomato
- Cilantro
- Cucumber
- Curry Leaf
- Edamame
- Eggplant
- Garden Pea
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Kaffir Lime
- Kailan / Chinese Broccoli
- Kale
- Lady's Finger
- Lemongrass
- Lettuce
- Lime
- Long Bean
- Luffa / Smooth Gourd
- Mint
- Mustard Greens
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Pumpkin
- Radish
- Red Onion
- Roselle
- Rosemary
- Spring Onion
- Sweet Basil
- Taro / Cocoyam
- Thyme
- Turmeric
- Ulam Raja
- Water Spinach
- Watermelon
- Winged Bean
- Winter Melon / Ash Gourd
- Yam Bean / Jicama
- Zucchini
Sources
MARDI Technical Guide; DOA IPM Manual