Scale on a lemon: how to get rid, means and methods of struggle, how to process

Growing citrus crops at home is a laborious and complex process. The representative of the family - indoor lemon - requires compliance with many conditions. One of the dangers for a lemon is the spread of a harmful insect on it - scale insects.

Features of scale insects

The scale insect belongs to the common family of Hemiptera insects. The main difference of this family is the piercing-sucking mouthparts.

Features of the structure of scale insects:

• Insect sizes can range from 1 to 5 millimeters;
• body consists of suction cup and shield;
• The top layer of the shield is covered with wax.

This structure provides shield shields 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 body of the insect, but the parasite that has stuck to the stem of the plant remains unharmed.

The way insects reproduce is by laying eggs. They are characterized by a high degree of fertility, able to quickly populate any plant.

The larvae that emerge from the eggs find a convenient location on indoor lemons, stick to the selected part, remain motionless for a long time.

The period of existence of females is several months, in this short period they are able to lay a hundred 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 scale insects with the help of the wind, if the citrus is in the summer on the open veranda.

Information! Damaged and weak plants are susceptible to infection, so they are preferred to be left in a quarantine zone.

What are the dangers of scale insects

Pests are especially dangerous for lemons:

• eat vegetable juice;
• secrete a sticky liquid that clogs pores;
• impede 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 you can not notice the appearance of a pest right away.

The main indicators of infection are:

• small growths on leaves or stems;
• location 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 fight the scale insect on a room lemon. It is not possible to get rid of parasites for several days, in some cases it is necessary 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 chemical methods, the most common is the use of insecticides or chemicals that have a direct purpose - the destruction of harmful insects.

Means with different degrees of impact are suitable for destroying scale insects:

1. Phytodermon is used to kill larvae, it is applied as a spray and starts to act as soon as the insect comes into contact with its elements.
2. To eliminate adults, the citrus crown must be treated with systemic insecticides. These include Aktara, Athletic. In addition to processing the crown, the soil is saturated with a solution with the necessary chemical elements, they enter the plant juice, which contributes to the destruction of scale insects.
3. Karbofos solutions are used to combat larvae and adults. Plants are treated several times within two weeks. This is necessary in order to destroy not only the larvae, adults, but also laid eggs.

One of the disadvantages of treating lemon 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 a quarantine zone for the lemon.

Mechanical

To the category of mechanical methods include manual processing of plants. To get rid of parasites, use a soapy solution, which is prepared with laundry soap.

For 1 liter of water take 200 grams of laundry soap. Soap is rubbed on a fine grater. Then dissolved in hot water. Leaves and stems are treated with a warm solution with a brush, cotton swabs.Remove the scale insects with special care to prevent their spread around the plant on the upper layers of the soil.

Information! To minimize the risk of larvae entering the soil, it is carefully covered with a plastic bag.

Folk methods

The advantage of folk recipes for removing pests from the surface of a lemon is the possibility of using products during the fruiting or flowering period. 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, sprayed with a spray bottle. Gardeners are advised to sprinkle the soil with large-leaf tobacco so that the larvae do not get to 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 in getting rid of larvae, egg clutches, 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, the onion is cut into 2 parts, poured with warm water and left for 24 hours to infuse. Leaves are treated with this liquid. It is recommended to wipe the leaves with a cotton pad.

Engine oil

Transformer oil is suitable for the fight. The solution is prepared on the basis of 1 liter of water at room temperature and 8 milliliters of oil. Leaves and stems are treated with this liquid once a week. The course of treatments is 3 or 5 procedures.

Preventive measures

Treatment of a lemon after getting rid of parasites can take a long time. In order 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:

• mandatory pruning of weak, unviable shoots and damaged branches;
• keeping newly cured or recently purchased plants in the quarantine zone;
• systematic change of topsoil in a pot;
• compliance with indicators of humidity, temperature;
• wet cleaning of leaves from dust, dirt;
• airing the room where the lemon tree is located.

Compliance with the simplest rules for care, providing optimal conditions for growth will protect the lemon tree from the influence of parasitic insects.

Recommended