November 9th, 2007Name That Pest
The first person* to identify the pest infecting my Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) wins a MT Squished Penny. I now know what this vile, nasty, li’l #@$!#& is, but you may win a bonus prize if you can tell me how it may have infected my plant**. Please send in your answers via comment or email me.
*This contest excludes the Sister who I called to figure out what the bug is.
**There were no new plants brought into the house. I found a stray pest on my Aloe Plant, but otherwise, no other plants are infected.
For a better look, remember that you can click the photos to enlarge them.
November 10th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
You’ve got me on this one, Courtney. It appears to be some sort of caterpillar to me, but I have know knowledge of plant pests. Good luck in eradicating the vermin.
[Reply to this comment]
November 10th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Is it an aphid?
I have grown some awesome peace lilies in my day but never had one infected by a plant pest.
My weeping fig had an infection one time though. Her name was Squeak and she was a c-a-t. She’d get in the pot and then shake that thing until the leaves fell off. I’d be at work, oblivious to this activity, until one weekend I caught her. Busted!
Let us know what is bothering your peace lily, ok?
[Reply to this comment]
November 10th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Never seen something like that before. I have to agree with Nick it looks like some kind of catepillar or a relative or it. Hope it gets better. We have plants but not that kind of plant in the house.
[Reply to this comment]
November 10th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Is it mealy bug? I’ve never had a peace lily so I can’t tell you how to get rid of the pest. I’ve never actually seen mealy bug either in person but that was what came to mind when I saw those …
[Reply to this comment]
November 10th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Wait a minute. Those are scale insects. I saw a picture of them here.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/
advice/pests_and_diseases/nonflash_
index.shtml?scale_insects
sorry I don’t know how to make links in the comments :O) I think a good insecticidal soap should take care of it.
[Reply to this comment]
November 10th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
MsLittlePea, ding ding ding! It is a vile little scale insect. They’re creepy and they’re crawly and altogether ooky! They have a hard shell and can be difficult to remove, but they can be picked off or swabbed with a Q-tip soaked in alcohol. Insecticidal soaps and pesticides work on the ‘crawlers’ (young critters). The word ‘crawlers’ just gives me the heebie-jeebies!
So a MT squished penny is yours, I just need to know where to send it!
[Reply to this comment]