tlturbo

For some reason, a bunch of little ants have decided to cultivate a colony of white mealy bugs under the leaves of ONE of my banana plants. I have insecticide that I use on my palms but it is a systemic. Will that make it get into the fruit on the bananas? This banana has fruit as does another trunk on the same mat.

Suggestions?

EBurton

Try spraying a soapy water solution on it similar to aphid treatment?

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Aloha,
Erik

Greenie

I'm glad you brought this up.I have the same problem on my sugarcane patch.I have tried spraying ORGANISIDE,but they just dont go away.What effect do the ants have with the Mealy bugs,and what is a good method to fix the problem?
thanks

Mark Hall

TT have you tried a 50/50 meths and water spray ? It usually kills mealy bugs or even straight meths applied with a small paint brush.That shouldn't affect the fruit.

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Time Flies like an Arrow.....Fruit flies like a Banana.

tlturbo

Mark - what is meths?

Greenie - ants tend mealy bugs for the sweet sticky excretions they make. Kind of like herding cows.

Mark Hall

Methalated spirits. We have it over here sold in hardware shops its used for cleaning paint brushes. I think it contains alcohol ( the tramps over here drink it too !!!!!)

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Time Flies like an Arrow.....Fruit flies like a Banana.

NANAMAN

I would try insecticidal soap or neem!

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Sailfish

Something like Safers?

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bananimal

Terry,

I would try a half strength application of malathion on the mealy bugs with two or three short term follow ups to ensure eradication. It is not a systemic but it is effective. Organocide is effective with several follow ups but stinks almost as bad as fish emulsion. It's main ingredient is sesame oil. However, my sesame chicken with black bean sauce doesn't smell like that - amazing!

I'm seeing alot of ants on my fruiting dwf orinoco - maybe I should look for mealy bugs too. Today found spider mites on some of the potted pups in the pool enclosure. Enough with all these critters already!!!

Dan

NANAMAN

Yea that should work, or there is a soap called Bon-Neem that is better! If you are using it on an edible variety, I wouldn't use anything stronger, unless you enjoy chemicals with your bananas.

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Susan Barchard

Does anyone use Neem Oil for Mealy Bugs? I don't want to harm my banana, of course, so I'm afraid to use it without knowing it's safe. Thanks!

sunfish

H2O

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Yug

On my orchids, I've used neem, insecticidal soap, a mix of 1 part forumula 409, 1 part rubbing alcohol, and 2 parts water (sometimes I skip the water).

If you use neem or horticultural oil, do not apply when the sun is directly on the plant or it will damage it.

And yes a systemic will get into the fruit. It goes all through the plant, fruit, leaves, stem, roots, etc.