Chervets: what kind of insect is this? Main types, harm caused, methods of control

A pest of the root system of domestic plants, the root bug is a distant relative of mealybugs, which eventually migrated underground. It settles in well-aerated, dry soil and at first practically does not betray its presence, which significantly complicates the fight against it.

Usually worms are discovered only when flowers are transplanted, but at this time there are often too many parasites. In order not to harm your home vegetation and protect it from insidious pests, you should take timely measures to combat them.

Features of the root mealybug

The homeland of the root mealybug is America. Over time, he “moved” to Western Europe, and after some time he was discovered in Eastern Europe. Saintpaulias, or violets, suffer the most from this pest. The blind and American scale insects are capable of destroying both succulent plants and Saintpaulias in a short time. More than 30 species of such scale insects have been found in America. These pests pose a serious threat to many plants. The fact is that they are polyphagous, which means that they can settle and feed on various plants.

Over the long period of their existence, root scale insects have undergone significant evolutionary changes. Now they live exclusively underground, and as food they use plant juices, which they extract from the roots. Such scale insects are especially dangerous because in the initial stages of infection it is impossible to understand that they are in the ground. And after the pest is found, the bushes will suffer greatly. The fact is that it can only be detected during plant transplantation.

The larvae and females of this pest are constantly in the soil, and they use the roots of a variety of plants as food. Very rarely, pests settle on the stem of a plant at a height of 0.1–0.5 cm from the soil surface. In this place, a whitish coating forms, which looks more like fluff. Such plaque is the secretions of the pest. The body of the female has a cylindrical shape, yellowish-white color, its surface is covered with a layer of waxy coating. She leads a relatively sedentary lifestyle. To raise offspring, females create special chambers from their secretions, which look like fiber. They make cameras in the immediate vicinity of the roots, in voids, and also in a pot on the edge of the substrate. Externally, the masonry of the root worm looks like simple mold.

The male is similar in appearance to the whitefly, but is much smaller. It also differs from the female in its fragility: the adult stops eating and dies after a short time. As a result, entire generations were observed throughout the year in which there was not a single male.

After the larva leaves the egg, it “takes care” of itself. She looks for her own food and moves quite quickly. Compared to the female, the larva has a much thicker layer of wax on its body. That is why, where the larva crawls, a trail of whitish waxy secretions remains.

If you find a small damage on the root system of a flower that was left by root scale insects, then when examined under a microscope it will look more like a huge number of larvae are swarming in the soil. Visually examining a plant affected by a root worm, you can see a waxy coating of a whitish hue on the root collar, which rises only a few millimeters above the surface of the substrate. By this sign, you can find out about the presence of a pest in the soil mixture without even removing the bush from the pot.

The pest can also be detected during the replanting process. If you were unable to detect scale insects at the initial stage of infection, then after some time the degradation of the affected plant will begin. At this time, mealybug larvae are the most dangerous because they can quickly and easily move into a nearby flower pot. Such pests multiply very quickly, so by the time you realize that one of your plants has dried out due to scale insects, other indoor flowers will already be affected by them.

To this day, scientists do not stop researching root scale insects. The fact is that they are capable of causing significant harm to valuable ornamental and economic crops. In the territory of the former Soviet Union, such pests were initially found on the roots of cacti, and they received the names: ordinary, aloe and cactus. After some time, many new varieties appeared, and the list of crops on which scale insects can settle also increased significantly.

Plants on which rootworms can settle

The root bug prefers to settle on those cultivated plants that are grown in a well-permeable substrate and at the same time react negatively to abundant watering. For example, these are crops such as succulent plants and violets (Saintpaulia). And such a pest can also infect:

• aroid crops: dieffenbachia, anthurium, monstera, alocasia;
• ficus;
• asparagus;
• citrus;
• azalea;
• Crassula, aloe, adenium, cactus, spurge, sedum, young, etc.;
• coffee;
• camellia;
• hibiscus;
• Saintpaulia, etc.

This is not a complete list. But this pest prefers to settle on these plants, since when they are grown, the most favorable conditions for mealybugs are created. However, there are many varieties of the plants listed above, and among them there are spectacular decorative flowering specimens. Most of them are incredibly similar to each other, and only specialists can distinguish them. However, all these plants have one thing in common - similar growing conditions and care. So, in the summer, the soil mixture in the pot is watered in such a way that it remains free-flowing, while in winter the crops do not need watering at all.

Appearance

Just a few decades ago, there were few varieties of root bugs, and they settled mainly on the roots of succulents. However, today more than a hundred species of this pest are known, and it prefers a dry soil mixture for development and does not betray its presence for a long time. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the root bug is very small in size and is not always visible to the naked eye.

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Signs of plant damage by root insects

It is possible to understand that a plant is affected by root worms. The main thing is to know certain signs by which it is possible to determine the presence of a pest in the soil. If you detect the insect in a timely manner and begin to fight it, then the affected plant can be saved. In order for the plant to survive, it is recommended to replant it as quickly as possible, with a complete replacement of the substrate and pot.

You can understand that a pest has settled on the roots of a crop by the following signs:

1. The bush, subject to proper care (appropriate temperature conditions, watering and soil mixture composition), completely stopped growing.
2. The plant has become faded, the foliage has lost its shine and looks lifeless.
3. Since the root system begins to actively die due to pests, massive yellowing of the foliage is observed, while it loses its turgor.
4. A plant affected by a mealybug weakens and begins to wither not only because the pest feeds on its juices, but also because it contributes to the introduction of a special substance into the bush, which inhibits the crop.
5. Damage to certain areas of the root system is observed, due to which the plant weakens and can be affected by pathogens of fungal and infectious diseases. As a result, the bush becomes lethargic and looks lifeless.
6. At the very last stage of insect infestation on the bush, you can see wrinkled and drying leaf plates.

If you examine a violet that is affected by a scale insect, then on the surface of its root system you can find a gray coating that looks more like ash. And on the sides of the earthen lump you can see a thick coating of grayish-white color. If you look at Saintpaulia under a microscope, you can see that its root system is covered with many larvae. At the same time, on the very edge of the earthen clod you can see a huge number of ovipositions. And on the surface of the walls of the container in which the flower was, you can see with the naked eye the waxy secretions of root scale insects, which look very similar to cotton wool. It is unlikely that such a bush will be saved.

How to deal with it?

First of all, a plant that has been infected with scale insects is mechanically cleaned of the pest. To do this, you should prepare a soap solution with warm water, which you carefully wipe all above-ground parts of the plant: leaves on both sides, stems, flowers and fruits. Severely damaged shoots can be removed. When infested with root insects, the root system should also be treated.

To save indoor plants, you can take the following measures:

1. Provide quarantine for the flower so that others do not become infected. All other plants need to be carefully examined - perhaps the insects have already become interested in them.
2. A preventive inspection once a month will be useful without being affected by pests. We must not forget to look at the condition of the underside of the sheet.
3. If a mealybug is found, you need to take care not only of treating the plant, but also thoroughly wash the window sill or the surrounding area, because larvae may be hiding there.
4. Not only females, but also males need to fight: they are caught by hanging adhesive tapes.

But the main way to combat scale insects is to use chemical or folk remedies.

Chemicals

Three groups of insecticidal drugs are effective against scale insects:

1. Intestinal. They enter the insect's body through the mouthparts. One of these products is Vermitek.
2. Contact. They enter through the external integument of the pest. The treated plant should not be exposed to light, as this will cause the foliage to turn yellow. For example, this is Fozalon.
3. Systemic, in which toxic substances enter the sap of plants. These are Rogor and Phosfamide sprays.

The popular products “Aktara” and “Aktellik” are combined: both intestinal and contact at the same time, which makes them more effective.

Folk remedies

Some substances with a pungent odor are harmful to scale insects. For example:

• infusion of fragrant tobacco, which the plants are sprayed with three times, waiting a week between treatments;
• garlic infusion: 5 cloves per 0.5 l. Leave for at least 4 hours;
• soap solution with alcohol (10 ml each), diluted in 1 liter of water.

Folk remedies will help if there are not many scale insects on the plant.

Scale insects are pests that can and should be combated immediately after detection. Otherwise they will harm the plants. Today there are many tools that solve this problem.

Prevention of plant damage

There are several preventive measures that will help avoid the appearance of root scale insects in the soil of indoor plants:

1. Both the mixture prepared with your own hands and the purchased soil mixture must be thoroughly steamed.
2. Inspect all plants regularly and monitor their development.
3. Water your home crops on time. Experts advise not to overdry the earthen ball, as this creates favorable conditions for the life and development of the pest. However, this watering regime is not suitable for all indoor crops.
4. Carefully monitor the condition of the soil mixture in the pot. If signs of the appearance of a scale insect have been noticed, then you need to start fighting it as soon as possible.
5. Systematically inspect the entire bush, paying attention to its condition, the color and turgor of the foliage, and also do not forget to check the root collar.
6. In autumn and spring, it is recommended to carry out 3 or 4 abundant waterings with complete soaking of the earthen clod. To do this, use a solution of an insecticidal preparation, for example: Allounds or Aktars. You need to pour the solution until it flows out of the drainage holes.
7. During transplantation, be sure to inspect both the bush itself and its earthen lump and roots.

Reasons for appearance

The main reasons are:
The presence of larvae or eggs in the soil. Moreover, it could even be substrate from the store

Therefore, it is important to disinfect the soil before planting. To do this, place the soil in the microwave for a few minutes or put it in the freezer overnight. Moving Mealybugs from a New Plant

To prevent this from happening, always quarantine the newly arrived plant in a separate room and monitor its condition for about a month. Improper care: cold room; watering with untreated water or water of the wrong temperature (both too warm and too cold have a bad effect); poor ventilation of the room; overly active introduction of nutritional complexes.

IMPORTANT! Improper care significantly reduces the plant’s immunity, so it can provoke any disease.

Failure to comply with hygiene standards: dried leaves are not removed in a timely manner, leaf plates are not wiped clean from dust. Infrequent loosening of the soil: stale soil is an ideal environment for various pests.

Control measures

If a mealybug settles on a house plant, you can notice it with the naked eye and begin to fight it in a timely manner, since it lives and feeds on the surface of the substrate and the plant. The root bug lives on the roots and in the soil mixture, so it is not easy to detect. As a rule, it is possible to understand that a pest has settled on a bush only during replanting. Most often, the plant is already severely damaged, and it is extremely difficult to fight the pest. However, it is still possible to save the bush.

Folk remedies

Since root bugs are extremely dangerous for many crops, it is recommended to immediately use chemicals to combat them, because folk remedies do not give a 100% result. However, experts still recommend resorting to a hot root bath; the technology for doing it is quite simple:

1. Immerse the plant's root system in a container of hot water (no higher than 55 degrees) and wait 15 to 20 minutes. Then pull out the bush and wait until it dries well, this usually takes from 15 to 20 hours. After the root bath, it is recommended to plant the plant in a new pot and fresh soil mixture.
2. Carefully remove the plant from the container along with the earthen lump.
3. Rinse the root system thoroughly to completely remove the substrate from it.
4. Wash the container well with a detergent solution and pour boiling water over it. If you wish, you can simply throw it away and buy a new pot.
5. Using a sharp tool, cut out any injured areas on the roots.
6. Rinse the root system thoroughly with the Acaricide solution.
7. For planting, use fresh, disinfected soil mixture.
8. Plant the bush in a new container and substrate.
9. Place the transplanted plant away from other flowers. The fact is that the larvae move extremely quickly and can easily climb into a flower pot located nearby.

Preventive actions

Spider mites on indoor plants - how to fight

The fight against this arthropod pest can be carried out using different methods. But spraying cannot be called effective. This method is used as an auxiliary technique or prophylactic.

Mealybug - prevention

For such purposes, you can purchase a ready-made spray; it will be easier than making it yourself. For example, a product such as Calypso has proven itself well, and it has several high-quality analogues.

Before using this spray, all existing growths and lumps from the leaves and stems of the plant must be removed. This is done carefully, with light movements, using a cotton pad soaked in alcohol, or better yet, in its solution.

Important! Even if there are no growths, for prevention it is worth wiping the flower with alcohol or washing it.

After this procedure, the plant is allowed to dry for 24 hours. And only then they spray it with a spray, and try to sprinkle it on all the leaves as thoroughly as possible. It is very important not to miss anything, since only in this case treatment or prevention will give the desired result. Repeated spraying is carried out if necessary in compliance with all manufacturer’s instructions.

In general, timely removal of dead leaves, washing the plant, and moderate watering are factors that help prevent the appearance of not only this pest, but also other insects dangerous to the flower, as well as its fungal infection. Do not neglect these rules.