Bugs on my Bonsai

Hi everyone,

I have a Jade Bonsai and I have recently noticed some white/ pinkish, wormy/larvae kind of bugs in the branches. I have been reading alot on this site, but I can't seem to find anything that fits the description exactly. The bugs seem to prefer the intersections of branches and I have noticed some white sticky stuff coming out from some of the braches that have been cut. I have tried to squash some of the pests and they leave a red mark. Does anyone know what kind of pests these things could be and what I could do about it?

Thanks in advance!

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TreeBay

Certain kinds of scale can appear that way, or maybe a wooly aphid. Sounds like a job for Malathion in either case, but you could try something a bit more environment-friendly first, likee an insecticidal soap.

Regards,

Matt

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Moni

Halcyon- is the white sticky stuff coming out of branches that you have cut? Or is it coming out where these bugs have done damage? Some trees exude their own sap quite easily when they are cut, so if you did it don't worry. If the bugs did it, let me know. I have a few thoughts on that.

As for what the bugs are...........How big are they? And what other things have you observed about them. How long have you had the plant?

I am a huge insecticidal soap fan, although you should be sure to use it more than once. Read the label! It works on a vast number of insects but if it doesn't help you, let me know. That will also help me identify the insect.
Moni

Thanks for your replies. In answer to your questions:

1. I haven't had the tree very long. Perhaps about 2 months. I just repotted in a few weeks ago and I wonder if these bugs were in the soil or something because I didn't have this problem before.

2. THe bugs are very small. In fact, I didn't notice them at first. But the white, sticky fluid does seem to be coming from where the bugs have done damage. After posting this message, I looked closer at the tree and noticed that there were some bugs on the leaves as well as the branches. And there are also problems with peeling bark as well as small black spots on the leaves.

I went to the garden shop a few days ago. But they didn't know what insecticidal soap was. In fact, they didn't know alot about bonsais, and reccommended an insecticide spray for house plants. I have used it once and it seems to have worked since I haven't seen any of them lately. The active ingredients are: Bifenthrine and Propiconazole.

I also have two other Carmosa bonsais and I am wondering if I should treat them for bugs as well, although I've seen no sign of the same kind of pest on these trees. I did use the same soil when repotting them.

I hope this will help to identify the bug because I'd really like to know what it is!

Moni

My God! Do you have any idea what they gave (sold) you? I should not be surprised since they didn't even know what Insecticidal Soap is. Probably because it is so much cheaper than what they sold you. Every garden center in the world knows what insecticidal soap is..........
Listen, Propiconazole is a FUNGICIDE! A great lot that will do for bugs! And not only that, it can be a serious eye irritant which is why it has a WARNING on the label. At least, it should. Always read labels, everybody, and always take them seriously. Sometimes they are not strongly worded enough as it is.
Where do you live? In Oregon, Bifenthrin is a Ristricted Use Pesticide (RUP) and can be used only by certified applicators. It also has a WARNING on the label. Tremors, salivating, etc. Am I scaring you yet? At least it does kill bugs.
I would not use that spray on an outside plant, let alone an indoors plant. God damn. I'm on the warpath now.
Go somewhere else, even KMart sells insecticidal soap. Or, if they are out of that, buy something that is pyrethrum based. Much less toxic and probably just as good.
Somebody stop me..........................
Moni

TreeBay

Gosh. I thought I would [u:676642456d]never[/u:676642456d] get a chance to use this. Don't stare at it too long. You'll go buggy!:

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Moni

Halcyon, here I am, all calmed down, and what do I see...........Matt's reply! Nice to see a little levity. I truly do apologize for yesterday's tirade. Of course you didn't know what they gave you. I just have a bee in my bonnet (no pun intended) over these places that sell their customers the most expensive stuff they can get their hands on, no matter how toxic they can be.
Everyone has to start taking responsibility into their own hands when it comes to using pesticides. Even pesticides used by organic growers can have WARNING on the label. That is why it is so important to read the labels. You will see me repeating that over and over again. As we educate ourselves about bonsai, we should also educate ourselves about the chemicals we are using to help in our success.
The fungicide in your mix is labeled as having eye irritation potential. You should wear goggles every time you use it. You also should be wearing chemical resistant gloves. Chemical resistant shoes wouldn't hurt, either. Long sleeves and pants.

The insecticide has an inhalation toxicity. That means you should use respiratory protection along with the gloves, shoes, long sleeves and pants.

Put the two chemicals together, like you have, and you should end up looking just like Matt's cartoon. Seriously. Funny as it is.
I still don't know what your bugs were, but they should be long gone with what you have been using.
Oh.........and Matt............beats me where you find all that stuff but keep up the good work.
Moni

Wow! I can't believe that stuff is so lethal!

I live in France and I was trying to explain "insecticidal soap" to the person who worked there. But obviously a direct translation of "savon insectiside" did not work very well. The stuff he sold me was the least expensive and he promised that it would not harm me or my plants. In fact the name of the product is "Soin des Plantes Intérieures" or something like that which means something like "Care for Your Indoor Plants."

Well, anyway, the bugs are gone and I'm still here. I think I found out where they were coming from though. I found the critters on several other house plants that I have. I guess they somehow made their way through my house. But I don't think they've done too much damage to my bonsais.

Thanks for all your help here though!

Moni

O.K. You got me. I haven't a clue how to translate that into French. I took French in highschool, which was so long ago that I can't even begin to make a guess. It sounds like France does not have the same protections that we do over here when it comes to pesticides. You might try asking for something that an organic grower might use. They must have organic growers over there. Oui?
Moni