Pests on Brugmansia

[Monika Gottschalk]

Aphids are common pests especially on Brugmansia in their winterquarter. Here they hatch undisturbed by natural enemies out of the winter eggs, laid in the fall in small cracks on the trunk.
Aphids must be controlled, because they are the main distributors of viruses between plants. Aphids can be treated successfully with Imidacloprid or Thiacloprid.



Spider mites do much damage on Brugmansia if the beginning of an infestation goes by unnoticed. Leaves, buds and young shoots dry up and fall off. First signs of the infestation are a a pale color of the leaves, the color of the surface appears to be silvery. The mites cover leaves and shoots with fine webs, the small reddish almost translucent mites can be seen with the naked eye. Treatment with pesticides like Abamection are successful but caution: spider mites are able to build up a resistance against pesticides. To avoid that, treatments with changing compounds are recommended.



Bugs can cause much damage especially on Brugmansia suaveolens and other Hybrids with a soft leaf texture. They suck with preference on the small leaves of the green shoots. The tiny punctures become larger with the increasing growth of the leaf, a narrow frame of dried up tissue encircles the punctures. The saliva of the bug is poisonous for the plant and causes a deformation of the leaves.  Early Controls of the shoots is necessary to prevent with measurements further damage. Treatments with Thiacloprid are successful, the systemic compound protects the plant for appr three weeks.
The picture shows a huge bug damage on a Brugmansia suaveolens.

[sekhment]

thanks for the good pics now I know better what to look for and what some more things look like.
Cassie

[Monika Gottschalk]

Broad mites are a pest of a wide-range of greenhouse-grown and overwintered plants such as begonia, cyclamen, fuchsia etc but lately also of Brugmansia. Broad mite requires very different environmental conditions than spider mites and is a problem under cool temperatures of 15 – 23°C and high relative humidities of 70 to 80%,  which are conducive for development and reproduction. Broad mites feed on young foliage and floral parts such as flower buds retarding growth and preventing flowers from fully-developing. Typical symptoms of feeding by broad mite include bronzing and distortion of plant leaves.  
Broad mite adults are approximately 0.25 mm long and only visible under the microscope. They feed on the underside of young leaves. The life cycle from egg to adult takes less than one week. Broad mite populations may disperse by attaching themselves to whiteflies and other insects.
Treatment with a Miticide like Abamectin will eventually control adult broad mites but does not harm the eggs larvae and nymph stages and for that reason, several treatments are required to reduce the broad mite population.
Preventative applications are recommended and required because once damage is evident it may be too late to control broad mite. Removing plants that are exhibiting symptoms, and those surrounding symptomatic plants, is essential in order to prevent the spread of broad mite onto other plants.