Growing citrus crops at home - a labor-intensive and complex process. A member of the family, indoor lemon, requires compliance with many conditions. One of the dangers for lemons is the spread of a harmful insect - scale insects.
Features of scale insects
Scale insects belong to the widespread family of hemipteran insects. The main difference between this family is the piercing-sucking type of mouthparts.
Features of the structure of scale insects:
- the size of the insect can be from 1 to 5 millimeters;
- the body consists of a suction cup and a shield;
- The top layer of the shield is covered with wax.
This structure provides scale insects with maximum protection from external influences. They are difficult to remove or destroy. The danger lies in the fact that the shield is removed from the insect’s body, but the parasite, which has attached itself to the plant stem, remains unharmed.
The method of reproduction of insects is by laying eggs. They are characterized by a high degree of fertility and are able to quickly colonize any plant.
The larvae that emerge from the eggs find a convenient location on indoor lemons, stick to the selected part, and remain motionless for a long time.
The period of existence of females is several months; in this short period of time they are capable of laying hundreds of eggs.
The stems on which the scale insects are located are covered with a sticky viscous layer; in this environment the scale insects are especially comfortable.
Methods of infection
The main ways for scale insects to appear on indoor lemons are:
- infections brought with a plant from a store or neighboring plants;
- spread of scale insects by wind if the citrus is located on an open veranda in the summer.
Information! Damaged and weak plants are susceptible to infection, so they are preferred to be left in the quarantine zone.
Why are scale insects dangerous?
Pests pose a particular danger to lemons:
- feed on plant juice;
- secrete a sticky liquid that clogs the pores;
- interfere with the natural process of photosynthesis;
- contribute to the spread of fungal infections;
- prevents the flow of nutrients to the plant.
How to tell if a lemon is affected
The appearance of parasites adapts to the color of plants, so the appearance of a pest may not be noticed immediately.
The main indicators of infection are:
- small growths on leaves or stems;
- arrangement of small viscous spots on the leaves;
- lemon leaves acquire a yellowish tint at the tips; at the next stage of parasite development they become yellow-brown.
How to deal with a pest
It takes some time to combat scale insects on indoor lemons. It is not possible to get rid of parasites within a few days; in some cases, you have to use several different methods.
The fact is that the scale insect is well camouflaged on the leaves, so gardeners are not always sure that the plants are completely cured.
Chemicals
Of the chemical methods, the most common is the use of insecticides or chemicals that have a direct purpose - the destruction of harmful insects.
To destroy scale insects, means with different degrees of impact are suitable:
- To destroy the larvae, the drug Fitodermon is used; it is applied in the form of a spray and begins to act as soon as the insect comes into contact with its elements.
- To eliminate adult individuals, the citrus crown must be treated with systemic insecticides. These include Aktaru and Athletic. In addition to treating the crown, the soil is saturated with a solution containing the necessary chemical elements; they enter the plant sap, which helps destroy scale insects.
- To combat larvae and adults, Karbofos solutions are used. Plants are treated several times over two weeks. This is necessary in order to destroy not only larvae and adults, but also laid eggs.
One of the disadvantages of treating lemons with insecticides is the impossibility of carrying out such procedures during the fruiting period, as well as the need to create a quarantine period and quarantine zone for lemons.
Mechanical
Mechanical methods include manual processing of plants. To get rid of parasites, use a soap solution, which is prepared using laundry soap.
For 1 liter of water take 200 grams of laundry soap. The soap is grated on a fine grater. Then dissolve in hot water. Leaves and stems are treated with a warm solution using a brush and cotton swabs. Scale insects are removed with special care to prevent them from spreading around the plant in the upper layers of the soil.
Information! To minimize the risk of larvae getting into the soil, it is carefully covered with a plastic bag.
Traditional methods
The advantage of traditional recipes for removal pests from the surface of the lemon – this is the possibility of using products during the period of fruiting or flowering. They do not harm the plant and are highly effective.
Treatment with tobacco solution
The solution is prepared according to the formula: 2 tablespoons of tobacco per 250 milliliters of water. The liquid is infused for 48 hours, filtered to remove tobacco crumbs, and sprayed with a spray bottle. Gardeners advise sprinkling the soil with large-leaf tobacco to prevent the larvae from reaching the plant through the upper layers.
Using ammonia
The solution is prepared at the rate of 10 milliliters of ammonia per 2 liters of water. This mixture is sprayed on the stems and leaves. Ammonia is effective for getting rid of larvae and egg laying, but has almost no effect on adults.
Onion infusion
This is a proven folk remedy that is used not only to get rid of scale insects, but also to eliminate other dangerous insects. The main disadvantage of the method is considered to be a pungent unpleasant odor.
To prepare the infusion, cut the onion into 2 parts, add warm water and leave for 24 hours to infuse. Leaves are treated with this liquid. It is recommended to wipe the leaves with a cotton pad.
Machine oil
Transformer oil is suitable for combating. The solution is prepared using 1 liter of water at room temperature and 8 milliliters of oil. Leaves and stems are treated with this liquid once weekly. The course of treatment is 3 or 5 procedures.
Preventive measures
Lemon treatment after getting rid of parasites can take a long time. To prevent the spread of pests, their further reproduction and the death of parts of the plant, experts advise following the rules for caring for indoor citrus fruits:
- pruning of weak, non-viable shoots and damaged branches is mandatory;
- keeping recently cured or recently purchased plants in a quarantine zone;
- systematically changing the top layer of soil in the pot;
- compliance with humidity and temperature indicators;
- wet cleaning of leaves from dust and dirt;
- ventilation of the room in which the lemon tree is located.
Compliance with the simplest rules of care and provision of optimal conditions for growth will protect the lemon tree from the influence of parasitic insects.
