Crotons’flamboyantly model jaundiced , orange , unripe , pinkish , red and bronze leaves give flowers a run for their money in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones9 through 11 . In cooler climates , crotons(Codiaeum variegatum var . pictum ) wreak tropic flash indoors . But crotons lose much of their appeal when messymealybugsarrive to feed and raise their families .
The Insects
mealy bug look more like bits of cotton fiber bagatelle than bugs , and they like it that way . The dirt ball are list for their secretion of the blank or grey , mealy wax that covers their bodies , sealing out piddle and — unfortunately — water - based insect powder .
To the naked eye , the four species most potential to overrun crotons — unknown , citrus , longtailedandMadeira — are hard to make out . Obscure and Madeira mealybugs invade both outdoor and indoor crotons . Citrus and longtailed mealybug only invade the indoor plants .
Warning
Croton mealybugs deal a specially bothersome habit . After drain sap from the plant ’s warm new emergence and metabolizing its nitrogen , they eliminate the carbohydrate - loaded residuum as sticky , transparent honeydew . Besides adhere to the plants and wall surface , honeydew attracts coal-black mold spore that germinate into greasy , black fungal layer .
Battling Back
Cultural Control Methods
Manage an other infestation with household items .
Things Needed
Step 1
pour out a small-scale amount of rubbing intoxicant into the jar or loving cup .
Step 2
Dip one end of a cotton swab into the alcohol .
Step 3
Touch the sloshed end of the mop to a mealybug ’s back . Repeat for each insect .
Step 4
Wait 48 hours while the alcohol dissolves the mealybugs ' protective wax and kills them .
Step 5
associate the spray attachment to a spigot or hose and rinse the utter insects from the plant . Rinsing also dislodges recently cover mealy bug and testicle sacs . If you do n’t have a spray attachment on your sink , you may also use a showerhead to spray the crotons .
hold back the leave-taking ' undersides and fork cautiously for hold back mealy bug .
Tip
If the intoxicant treatment sounds tedious , give light infested indoor works a thorough rinse in the exhibitioner aftercovering its container in a plastic bag so the potting soil stays put . Rinse out-of-door crotons with the hose sprayer set on jet .
Insecticide Treatment
chemical substance insecticides do n’t get through mealy bug ' waxy shields . A better selection for eradicating a spartan infestation is organic , quick - to - use insecticidal scoop . The scoop suffocates the adults and larvae it hit , so arrant coverage is indispensable .
Move indoor Croton tiglium to a dimly lit surface area , or wait until the outdoor one are out of direct Dominicus .
Cover nearby indoor surface to protect them from dripping or drifting spray .
Put on the protective clothing goggles and waterproof glove .
Spray until the scoop runs from all the flora ' surfaces . give spare aid to the backs of the leave of absence .
Repeat the lotion once or twice over the next three days , or as often as the goop ’s recording label recommend , to belt down mealybugs that escaped or hatched after the initial handling .
Always conform to an insecticide label ’s instruction manual on app rate and frequency as well as its rubber precautions .
