Aphids on Mangave? (Edit: Not Aphids but Running Bugs)
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Aphids on Mangave? (Edit: Not Aphids but Running Bugs)
I just recently received a Mangave plant and today noticed lots of fast moving insects on it. I sprayed it with diluted alcohol & it seemed to kill the ones that were hit with the spray. Enlarging a photo of a dead insect it looks maybe like an aphid? Not really sure what they are or how to treat.
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- Agave_fan
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Re: Aphids on Mangave?
While it does look a bit like an aphid, the emerging wings throw me off a bit and it looks more segmented than the aphids I have seen. I also do not think of aphids as fast moving pests that run around. I think there are some aphids with wings, I am just not familiar with them. The aphids around me mainly suck life from the plants creating little ugly lighter discoloration, I have not seen one burrow like demonstrated in your photo so I will let someone with actual knowledge respond and verify whether this is an aphid.
My only suggestion would be to consider switching from the alcohol to something like insecticidal soap or neem until you know for certain what you are battling. If this is an aphid issue, both of these should help without doing too much harm to your plant. I have used alcohol before for spot treating mealy bugs and your plant might be perfectly fine handling the alcohol spray, I just tend to error on the side of caution and would worry with spraying the entire plant with diluted alcohol wondering if I had the dilution correct and whether the alcohol might cause leaf burn ect.
If the plant has a lot of these little critters, I would probably be spraying it down and removing all soil being careful to do this in an area where you can try to contain the issue. Honestly, I do this for all my plants and remove all soil on any plant I purchase anyway.
Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in...
My only suggestion would be to consider switching from the alcohol to something like insecticidal soap or neem until you know for certain what you are battling. If this is an aphid issue, both of these should help without doing too much harm to your plant. I have used alcohol before for spot treating mealy bugs and your plant might be perfectly fine handling the alcohol spray, I just tend to error on the side of caution and would worry with spraying the entire plant with diluted alcohol wondering if I had the dilution correct and whether the alcohol might cause leaf burn ect.
If the plant has a lot of these little critters, I would probably be spraying it down and removing all soil being careful to do this in an area where you can try to contain the issue. Honestly, I do this for all my plants and remove all soil on any plant I purchase anyway.
Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in...
- Gee.S
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Re: Aphids on Mangave?
Looks like running bugs (Caulotops sp.). That could be a BIG problem, depending on your situation. Kill them, kill them all, and kill them all quickly. If you are an outdoor gardener with other agaves and assorted succulents about, running bugs might establish in your garden, and you'll never be rid of them.
I would be highly upset if some person or business sent me running bugs.
I would be highly upset if some person or business sent me running bugs.
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"
- Agave_fan
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Re: Aphids on Mangave?
I think you are right Gee. Found a picture of the nymph stage which has the developing wings, same segmentation, big eyes and anatomy. I guess they recently changed the name to Agaveocoris barberi for anyone interested in doing more research.Gee.S wrote: ↑Sat Sep 21, 2024 12:53 pm Looks like running bugs (Caulotops sp.). That could be a BIG problem, depending on your situation. Kill them, kill them all, and kill them all quickly. If you are an outdoor gardener with other agaves and assorted succulents about, running bugs might establish in your garden, and you'll never be rid of them.
I would be highly upset if some person or business sent me running bugs.
What would you suggest Bubba do, toss the plant if it is not an extremely important one? March it back to where they purchased? Attempt to kill the insects with something strong enough to make sure they die quickly?
Sadly, I have brought plants home and then discovered mites in quarantine that were not readily apparent at purchase and have bagged the entire thing and tossed it to prevent issues in my collection. Is this bug bad enough to do this?
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- Gee.S
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Re: Aphids on Mangave?
Might be no point in tossing the plant. Running bugs are not bound it. Annoy them, and they will leave the plant, only to return later. What to do depends on circumstances. House plant? Greenhouse? Outdoor garden?
Agave
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"American aloe plant," 1797, from Greek Agaue, proper name in mythology (mother of Pentheus), from agauos "noble," perhaps from agasthai "wonder at".
"Some talk the talk, others walk the walk, but I stalk the stalk"