The exotic radiance of palm trees enchants interiors, balconies and terraces. Unfortunately, the attractive plants are not completely immune to pest infestation. Lice, especially the different types of scale insects, are relatively common on the fronds. They initially cause light or yellow leaf spots. If nothing is done then, the palm tree can be damaged so badly that it even dies.
In the event of a lice infestation, action should be taken as quickly as possible
characteristics
- Scale insects belong to the plant lice family.
- About 0.6 to 0.8 millimeters in size.
- The winged males do not eat.
- The immobile females feed on the plant sap.
- The body of the female lice is covered by a hard or woolly substance.
- This shield protects the female animal and the laid eggs from environmental influences and predators.
- Scale insects live in large colonies and spread extremely quickly.
Effective control of lice
Depending on how severe the infestation is, home remedies can be enough to get rid of the animals.
scrape off
This method is only recommended if the infestation is still very small. Carefully remove the pests with a knife, which is immediately rinsed well. However, you can never be completely sure that you have caught all the lice. In addition, there is a risk that many of the tiny little eggs remain on the palm tree or are even accidentally distributed on the plant.
Spraying with spirit soft soap solution
This is a relatively mild-acting yet very effective remedy for scale insects. The alcohol contained in the spirit destroys the protective shield, the soft soap (44.90€) clogs the respiratory organs of the lice and they die.
The optimal mixing ratio:
- 1 liter of water
- 30 milliliters of soft soap
- 30 milliliters of alcohol
Fill everything into a sprayer and spray the animals generously several times at intervals of a few days.
Chemicals
Due to the resistance of the lice, the use of chemical agents is often unavoidable. Highly effective sticks, which are stuck into the ground, as well as sprays are available.
tips
Some plant books advise dabbing the scale insects with oily substances such as paraffin. However, this is not recommended as the oil will also clog the plant pores. As a result, the leaf is no longer properly nourished, turns brown and dies. In palm trees, which grow very slowly, this damage remains visible for a long time.