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fuchsia gall mites - problem solved
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Posted by jim_wood USDA 10 (My Page) on Tue, May 27, 08 at 20:57
| I hope I'm neither redundant with this information nor mistaken regarding the results... but after several years battlling the nasty Fuchsia Gall Mites I have evidently succeeded in eradicating them from my plants... or so it seems!
The magic bullet is "Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed." This is a liquid concentrate, unlike the same manufacturer's product for roses, which is a dry granulate. This product is a systemic insecticide, but does NOT come with the usual warning about using it on or near edible-crop plants. In fact, it comes specifically recommended for certain nut trees. This was good news for me, as some of my fuchsias are close to shade-providing fruit trees.
A couple of my plants are particularly prone to the gall mite and would develop the characteristic wrinkled and distorted leaf growth year after year. One plant, in deep shade and under a bird feeder, was much worse than all the rest, perhaps from bird-dropping-borne mites.
It has now been several months since I used the Bayer product, following the instructions that came with it. All growth since about two months ago is totally mite-free. Even the older, woodier parts of the plant, which were the worst-infested, have put our new, clean growth.
The stuff isn't cheap, but Wal-Mart carries it at the best price, and if you go to the Beyer Advanced Website you can find a coupon for either a $5 refund (32oz size) or $10 refund (64oz size). My $5 check came today, which prompted me to share this information. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: fuchsia gall mites - problem solved
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| Hi could you please send me the name of the chemical in there -as I'm writting on a book and I would like to give this info to all fuchsia gardeners. In Uk, France and Northern Germany also people have problems with the gall mite. regards,
H.J. |
RE: fuchsia gall mites - problem solved
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| Sure enough, H.J. The label says the active ingredient is Imidacloprid in a concentration of 1.47%. If you like, I can send a scan of the label. Contact me off group at electrojim(at)sbcglobal(dot)net |
RE: fuchsia gall mites - problem solved
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| hi Jim, That really helps. Thank you very much.
regards,
H.J. |
fuchsia gall mites - problem solved
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| Jim, I have had success using Imidacloprid in a systemic insectcide produced by Gordon's called ImidiPro. It is used as a soil drench and as a foiler application with local systemic penetration. It can take a few weeks to start working. Also, I have use Abamactin in a miticide/Insecticide produced by Syngenta called Avid 0.15EC. Avid also works on the dreaded Pacific Bamboo mite and not to mention spider mites. I obtain both products mailorder from Florida from Sunshine Gardens, George and Hope Lewis, email hope at hglumis@comcast.net. They are a lovely older couple that are quite knowledgeable. These products are expensive, but a little goes a long way and Sunshine sells them about as reasonable as it gets. Hope this helps. -Steve |
RE: fuchsia gall mites - problem solved
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- Posted by bahia SF Bay Area (My Page) on
Fri, Sep 19, 08 at 23:09
| Isn't anyone worried about the impact of a using such a strong systemic on the hummingbirds? It is one thing to use these chemicals on plants such as bamboo that don't attract birds and beneficial insects, but I wouldn't feel right about using them on fuchsias which are accessible to hummingbirds, especially if your bird feeder is for hummers... |
RE: fuchsia gall mites - problem solved
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- Posted by anneow Z9 sunset16 (My Page) on
Sat, May 23, 09 at 22:46
| I am also concerned about the hummers. Does anyone know of less toxic gall mite control? |
RE: fuchsia gall mites - problem solved
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| This chemical, Imidacloprid, has been implicated as one possible cause of honeybee colony collapse disorder. It is illegal in some countries. Wikipedia has a good entry on Imidacloprid. We really need to try to get away from chemicals. I find that if I cut a fuschia to the ground it grows back mite free. Remove the host and the insect is gone. I have numerous fuschias and even the largest (I have one that is 5 feet tall) grow back to their original size very rapidly, within a few months. I also work hard not to spread it, control ants with bait unavailable to wildlife or other insects (I think they spread it too), and try to keep the plants as healthy as possible. They are in fact spectacular. If a plant is consistently unhealthy, plagued by aphids or mites, I get rid of it and plant a different one. |
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