Military insects and red spiders are the most common insect pests of rhododendrons, but because the symptoms of the two are more similar, many flower friends, especially novices, are easily confused, and the general insects are mistaken for red spiders to spray drugs, and the results are obvious before the effect is strange!
Today we will take a look at the difference between these two major insect pests, and how to control them?
<h1>Let's first look at what the two have in common:</h1>
One of the similarities: red spiders and military insects are both insect pests of sucking mouthparts, with long needle-like mouth organs, which are usually used to pierce the epidermis, stems and leaves, new shoots and even flower buds of plants, and then feed on the sap;
The second similarity: they all like high temperature dry and poor ventilation environment;
Similarity point three: the front of the damaged leaf will begin to appear white spots, and then as the damage increases, the white spots will spread to the entire front of the leaf, and finally the leaves will fade green and yellow or white, and finally fall.
This is why many people make the distinction between red spiders and military insects stupidly, because the symptoms of the plants they harm are basically similar.
<h1>The difference between a red spider and a military worm! </h1>
So how exactly do you distinguish between the two? In fact, it is very simple, let's take a closer look at it together:
One of the differences: different body types
Red spiders are relatively small, generally only about 0.5 mm long, oval in shape.
The military insect belongs to the semi-piercing, reticulated insect pest, family bugs, nymphs of the military insect is 1.9 mm long, the adult body is about 3 mm long, and the body is flattened, transparent or brown.
Difference #2: The symptoms on the back of the harmful leaf are different!
As long as you turn the back of the leaf over, you will find a clear difference between the two, the red spider has a small filament on the back of the leaf, and occasionally you will see small insects crawling;
The military insect is more obvious, and there is usually a clear brown or black excrement on the back of the leaf, which is more similar to the secretion of flies.
Generally according to these two points, you can distinguish whether your rhododendron is infected with military insects or red spiders, and then prescribe the right medicine, in order to better and faster eliminate it, so that the plant can return to healthy growth!
<h1>So how to control red spiders and military insects? </h1>
Prevention and control methods of red spiders
Red spider is a pest that many flowers will be infected with, like the strawberry of the month, as well as many herbaceous flowers, its reproductive ability is very fast, and the higher the temperature, the faster the breeding speed, even 3-4 days in the summer can complete a generation. And extremely tenacious. In particular, the net-weaving leaf mites spread faster and can float to any of the surrounding plants at will with the help of the wind. So dealing with red spiders is a very long process, usually it takes 20-30 days to completely eliminate them.
Commonly used drugs are biphenylhydrazide (eccarbenzine, standard, etc.), spironyl ester, acacia mite, mite danger, trichlorocarbicide, triazole tin, gold mand, ethanazole, mite, etc., as long as it is the treatment of mites drugs are basically effective.
However, it should be noted that red spiders are more stubborn and easy to develop resistance, so it is usually best to mix two or three drugs and cross-use them.
Spraying time: 2 consecutive sprays in the early stage, once every three days, and then sprayed for the third time at intervals of 10 days to play a consolidating effect, in case there are missing eggs hatching successfully.
<h1>Control of military insects</h1>
The damage period of military insects is very long, generally from May to October, and the summer is the most serious. Like the red spider, he uses adult and nymph spines to damage the leaves of rhododendrons, and they like to gather in the inner part of the leaf plant or under the well-ventilated back of the leaf, especially near the leaf veins, and suck the sap, causing pale spots on the front of the leaf, and in severe cases, causing the entire leaf to wither and fall.
In addition, it should be noted that the excrement of military insects may also cause coal pollution disease, resulting in weak plant growth and affecting the growth and flowering of plants. So once found, it should be sprayed in time to kill!
To completely eliminate it, it is also necessary to spray 2 to 3 times continuously, every 5-7 days, because it takes exactly 5 to 7 days for the eggs of the military insects to hatch into nymphs.
<h1>In the past, doing a good job of prevention was the best way to maintain the health of the plant! </h1>
But the treatment of any disease and pest is always the next policy, there is no way, is to cause harm to the plant after the action occurs, and whether the leaves are stalks, the damage that has been caused is irreversible, so prevention is the focus!
Whether it is to prevent red spiders, military insects or other pests and diseases, maintaining a good ventilation environment is the first condition.
Secondly, the incubation period of many diseases and insect pests is very long, especially in winter, which is usually hidden in potting soil, deciduous leaves and plant skins to overwinter, so doing a good job of clearing the garden in winter is an important way to prevent and control disease outbreaks in the coming year.
Daily protection is also a crucial process, regularly burying some systemic insecticides in the potting soil, and regularly spraying protective agents on the stems and leaves of the plant can greatly reduce the incidence of diseases and insect pests!
<h1>Precautions for spraying</h1>
Finally, it is worth reminding the precautions of spraying: any pest spraying should not use the same single agent for a long time, otherwise it is easy to produce resistance, resulting in weakened or even ineffective efficacy, delaying the best treatment period, and seriously endangering the healthy growth of plants!
Second, spraying should be done in all corners of the plant, the front and back of the leaves, the potting soil, and the surrounding ground should be fully sprayed to avoid surviving eggs.
Third, indoor or balcony planting flower friends should pay attention to the best use of low-toxicity, small odor potions, after all, the indoor ventilation is not better than the open air, so as not to affect the life of the plus people!
Well, today I will share this first, pay attention to the flower girl, and learn more flower care tips!
The above text is original by The Flower Lady, and reproduction is prohibited!