Violet is often attacked by pests. In most cases, the appearance and spread of parasites is facilitated by improper agricultural practices. How to recognize this or that pest and get rid of it? Can an infected plant be saved? What drugs for the treatment of saintpaulias are considered the most effective?
Thrips
Start the list of violet pests with pictures of thrips. The flower is attacked by both adults and larvae, feeding on its juice. The body length of the parasite does not exceed 1.5 mm, the back is colored black and brown, the larvae are yellow.
Adult insects are able to fly over short distances, thus, if measures are not taken in a timely manner to destroy them, the entire flower garden will soon be infected. Female parasites lay their eggs directly into the body of the plant - the pulp of the leaf plate. At the same time, in one clutch alone there can be about a thousand eggs. After a few weeks, larvae emerge from them, which turn into adults after about a month.
With the advent of thrips, the leaves of plants change their color - on themclearly distinguishable whitish stripes and dots are formed. If young growth has already left the eggs, then in this case the flowers will begin to wither, and the plant itself will rapidly fade. At the same time, a colony of violet pests can be found on the lower part of the leaf plate - this is where they parasitize and multiply.
Thrips infect plants regardless of temperature conditions and seasons, giving one or two generations per quarter. Infection in most cases comes from garden flowers (chamomile, aster, chrysanthemum) that enter the house during the flowering period.
In order to get rid of thrips, you must first cut off all the flowers and buds, and then treat the infected violet with "Confidor". The soil is spilled with Aktara. After 10 days, the treatment is repeated and over the next month they continue to remove newly formed buds. In the future, it is very important to maintain proper agricultural practices.
Mealybug
Small insect, whose body is covered with a whitish fluff, living in the axils of the leaves, as well as in young peduncles. The mealybug sucks the nutritional juices from the plants and at the same time secretes saliva, which, in turn, infects the flower and interferes with normal metabolism.
In the place of bites, leaves and flowers are deformed. Red-brown spots appear on them. When transplanting an infected specimen from the substrate, you can feel a specific mushroom smell. These pests of violets are very small, but since their body is covered with white fluff, upon detailed examinationplants are quite noticeable.
On Saintpaulia, mealybug moves from garden plants brought home. If there are too many parasites, the attacked flower loses its decorative effect in a short time. In doing so, he becomes more susceptible to many diseases.
Pests of violets are destroyed with the help of the preparation "Aktara", "Fitoverm", "Mospilan" or "Aktellik". After 10 days, it is desirable to repeat the treatment. As the reviews testify, if you are not fighting the worms for the first time and are already reusing the Aktara remedy, then the parasites have most likely already developed immunity to it. Florists recommend using different systemic insecticides each time, which will differ in their composition.
However, the use of insecticide alone is not enough. An infected plant must be transplanted into a new substrate. The pot in which the infection occurred should also be thrown away.
Root bug
Root bug is a "close relative" of the above parasite. They have similar names, but different taste preferences. This is a small insect that is a dangerous pest of the Uzambara violet. If the mealybug attacks mainly the green part of the plant, then the root, as the name implies, leads an underground lifestyle, infecting the rhizome of the flower.
The root bug is dangerous in that it is often possible to detect it very late. By this time, the plants are damaged quite strongly and the main symptoms are obvious: the developmentstops, the leaves become faded, flowers appear, but in small quantities. Over time, the flower loses turgor, turns yellow. This suggests that a significant part of the root is destroyed. And since the worm parasitizes underground, the grower simply does not see him. Below is an enlarged photo of violet pests.
The fight against them is carried out using one of the following drugs: Regent, Aktara, Dantop, Mospilan. With the selected agent, the infected substrate is shed three times with an interval of 10 days. At the same time, Aktara at the concentration recommended by the manufacturer often turns out to be ineffective. If after the first treatment there was no positive result, it is necessary to select another systemic insecticide. And remember that contact-intestinal agents do not help in the fight against mealybugs.
Pincers
Ticks continue the list of violet pests (with photos). Their treatment when infected with this parasite will be lengthy, since the latter are so small that it is very difficult to detect them at the initial stages. They settle and breed, as a rule, in conditions of high humidity. On violets, cyclamen, red spider and spider mites are most common. They live mainly in rosettes of plants.
When mites appear on the back of the leaves, depressed marks appear, the plates begin to deform, become covered with red or brownish spots. These spots after a while become entangled in a thin cobweb. The plant takes on an untidy appearance, as if covereda layer of dust. Gradually, the infected violet lags behind in growth, new buds do not form, and those already released do not open, pollen spills out of the anthers. With a decrease in air humidity, the leaves begin to curl, dry out, the lower leaves are especially damaged.
Violet pest control is carried out in several stages. First of all, it is necessary to thoroughly, but very carefully, rinse the infected specimens under running water (do not use cold!). Thanks to this event, it will be possible to remove a significant part of the parasites. Treatment is with acaricides. Sick plants are treated two to three times at weekly intervals. At the same time, the infected substrate is shed with Fitoverm or Aktellik preparations. If there are too many pests, it is better to use Neoron with re-treatment after 10 days. In the future, violets must be placed away from each other and periodically arrange water procedures for them, especially in hot and dry weather.
Nematodes
Another indoor violet pest that damages plant roots. Nematodes are small colorless worms whose body length is about 1.2-1.5 mm. In females, the body is pear-shaped, in males it is filiform. Parasites reproduce very quickly, in one clutch there can be 300-500 eggs. Small larvae in a short time move to neighboring plants, quickly infecting the entire flower garden.
With the appearance of nematodes on the roots of violets, swellings are formed - galls, which can have different sizes. At the same time, the parasites themselves can be found insidethese swellings. There they reproduce and parasitize. As a result of its vital activity, the pest sucks out the nutrient juices from the plant and at the same time injects toxic substances.
Symptoms of infection do not appear immediately. In order not to miss time and prevent the death of the plant, its roots must be carefully examined at each transplant. With severe damage to the root system, the aerial part of the violet also suffers: the growth point begins to dry out, new leaves appear in an altered form. The growth of the plant slows down, it looks weak and does not bloom, the green part begins to turn yellow. Gradually, the violet withers, its stem is deformed, the plant dies.
Unfortunately, in most cases, the flower cannot be saved. The infected specimen is thrown away with the pot. If there is an urgent need to preserve the violet, pest control can be carried out in the following way: remove it from the substrate, cut off all damaged roots, treat the flower with an immune booster and transplant it into a new land. The second way: choose a he althy leaf and try to root it.
It is worth noting that it is much easier to prevent the appearance of nematodes than after trying to save an infected flower. To do this, it is enough to use clean soil when transplanting violets. You can not take the land either from a flower bed, or from a greenhouse, or from any other area where something grows or has grown.
Aphids
Aphids - pests of violets (in the photo you can see how they look), which can be bothwings, and without them. The length of their body does not exceed two millimeters, while it is so soft that the insect can be easily crushed with your fingers.
Reproduction of aphids, and, accordingly, the infection of plants, occurs very quickly: every 15 days, about 150 larvae hatch from eggs. Small green pests settle on the back of the leaf blades. With a serious infection, a whitish sticky pad appears on this part of the leaves.
You can recognize an aphid infestation by the appearance of the buds and flowers. The petals begin to change their shape, the flowers wither, the buds do not develop. The leaves of the plant also begin to curl. Sooty fungus grows where there used to be sticky pad.
How to treat violets from pests? An infected specimen can be cured with the help of special preparations: Fitoverm, Aktellik, Mospilan, Intavir, Neoron. But before processing, the plant is gently washed under running water, removing parasites from it. The rest are destroyed using the selected insecticide. A week later, the treatment is repeated.
Shield and false shield
Very dangerous pests of violets, the treatment of which is carried out in a complex manner. The presence of sticky drops on the leaves of Saintpaulia may indicate infection with scale insects or false scale insects. In this case, the parasites themselves will certainly be immediately detected if a more detailed examination is carried out. These pests reproduce very quickly, and therefore it will be necessary to treat all copies of your flower collection.
Most often the parasite settles on the leaves,petioles and rosettes of plants. The body length of an adult is about 7 mm, it is covered on top with a kind of shell or shield. At the same time, in false scale insects, the shells are convex, in scale insects - almost flat.
After pest bites, small yellowish spots appear on the leaves. Over time, the leaf turns completely yellow, curls and falls off. With a serious infection, the violet begins to wither, sheds all the leaves and dies.
To combat scale insects and false scale insects, the preparations "Aktara", "Aktellik", "Agravertin" are used. But before spraying, the flower must be washed under running water, then the detected violet pests are removed with hands or tweezers. In the future, the saintpaulias are located away from each other, they change the frequency of watering and adjust the illumination.
Sciarids
Mushroom mosquitoes, midges - pests of violets (saintpaulia), which destroy the root of the plant. At the same time, it is not adults that parasitize on flowers, but their larvae, which, due to their size and body structure, are able to easily penetrate into the substrate.
Sciarids enter houses simply from the street, sometimes their larvae are brought in with the ground. These parasites prefer high humidity and settle where there is a lot of decaying organic matter - in such conditions they multiply very quickly, and as a result of their vital activity, the root of the plant begins to rot. Subsequently, the pest moves to the lower leaves. With a damaged root system, violet does not have the ability to restore strength, and therefore there is a risk of developing fungal infections.diseases.
Violet pests are destroyed with the help of the Karbofos preparation or they shed the soil with any other systemic insecticide. Very good results in the fight against sciarid larvae are shown by "Regent". As a rule, 10 days after the first treatment, a second treatment is carried out. In the future, it is necessary to pay special attention to agricultural technology. If it is violated, the sciarids will certainly return.
Whitefly
Whiteflies are herbivorous insects that often settle on indoor violets. A photo of the pest can be seen below. Their body length is about 3 mm. Insects feed on plant sap, both adults and larvae.
Whiteflies hide on the back side of the leaf plate, where they parasitize, leaving behind a sticky coating. This pad becomes an ideal soil for the development of soot fungus. In addition, the larvae of the parasite are attached to both the foliage and the stems of the flower, parasitizing in this place for a long time.
The infected plant begins to weaken, lags behind in growth, loses its decorative effect. Leaves wither, buds do not open. With a weakened immune system, violet loses its ability to resist pathogens of bacterial, viral and fungal diseases.
In order to get rid of the whitefly, you can use the biological product "Aktofit". This bioinsecticide is often used in floriculture against a wide range of pests. Usually 2-3 treatments are carried out with 10-day breaks. Also, Aversectin C and Avertin-N show very good results in the fight against whiteflies. They are especially effectivewith mass infection of the flower by larvae. When this parasite appears, Akarin, Fitoverm and Aktofit are often used.
Springtails, fools
Representatives of the families Hypogastruridae and Entomobryidae are often found in pots with saintpaulias. As a rule, their sizes are insignificant - from 0.2 to 0.8 mm. These pests of the uzambara violet prefer places with high humidity, respectively, they start up where the plants are watered too often. Dampness also promotes the reproduction of parasites.
With a small number, these violet pests are unable to cause serious harm to the plant. However, with a mass accumulation, they begin to eat young roots of indoor senpaulias, as a result of which the infected specimens weaken, wither and may die.
In the fight against podura, it is necessary, first of all, to adjust the watering of plants and remove fallen leaves, since parasites often prefer to hide under them. Having reduced the frequency of watering, pay attention to the composition of the soil: with an excess of organic matter, increased reproduction of fungi and mold occurs. In most cases, these measures are enough to make the springtails and podura completely disappear.
If there are too many parasites, then it is recommended to transplant the violet into a new clean substrate. In emergency cases, the soil is treated with a Pyrethrum solution or systemic insecticides are used, for example, Aktar or Mospilan.
You can also use Bazudin. The granules of the drug are scattered over the surfacesoil in a thin layer. This is quite enough to destroy all the parasites that live in the soil. "Initiate" has a similar effect. In order for the insecticide to work, it is mixed with the ground. The tool starts working immediately - after a couple of hours, all fools and springtails will be destroyed.
Woodlice
Woodlice complete the list of violet pests with photos. Their treatment when infected with these parasites must necessarily be comprehensive. Woodlice are attracted to high humidity, and if the substrate in the pot is constantly waterlogged, tiny crustaceans can be found in it over time.
Outwardly woodlice are very similar to tiny armadillos. Having settled in loose moist soil, they begin to multiply rapidly. Larvae and adults eat mainly violet roots, but sometimes leaves of plants also suffer.
At the same time, it is young wood lice that are considered the most dangerous for saintpaulias. To combat them, acaricides are usually used. In this case, the processing must be very thorough: plants are sprayed in parallel and the soil is shed. As a rule, the treatment is repeated after 10 days.
Blossoming violets can become a real decoration for your home. However, they will give you positive emotions only if you manage to provide them with proper care. By studying this list of violet pests and photos, it will be much easier for you to recognize the infestation in time and take the right steps to fix the problem. Remember, the sooner you start treatment, the more likely you are to savethe best pieces of your collection from death.
