DATE:     12/31/98  
WRITER:   Dr. Clyde Gorsuch, Extension entomologist, 
          (864) 656-5043            
EDITOR:   Giles Singleton, (864) 656-3876

Keeping Houseplants Safe from Insects

     CLEMSON -- Now that the house plants have been brought
inside for the winter and we have received new plants as holiday
gifts, the threat of insects and mites increases. Usually,
problems show up on new plants or on those that have been outside
for the summer.
     Always check a plant and its container for signs of pests. 
It is a good idea to isolate new plants from other plants for six
weeks to ensure that no pests were brought in with the plants. If
you suspect a pest problem, plants already in the home should be
isolated immediately.
      A number of insects and related pests feed on houseplants.
Some are very small and miss being seen until the damage is quite
severe. Others manage to hide in protected places on the plants. 
     The most common houseplant pests are aphids, mealybugs and
mites.
     Aphids are small insects that are usually green but may be
pink, brown, black or yellow. They are often found on new growth. 
      Aphids suck plant sap, resulting in yellowing and misshapen
leaves. As they feed they excrete a sugary material, called 
honeydew, which makes leaves sticky. Growth may be stunted and
new buds deformed.
     Mealybugs are small, pale insects that cover themselves and
their eggs with a white waxy material, making them look cottony. 
They suck plant sap, causing stunted growth and sometimes plant
death. They also excrete honeydew.
     Mites are not insects but are more closely related to
spiders. Since they are very small, plant damage is often the
first sign of their presence. Damage includes light-colored
speckling on the upper surface of the leaf. If the mites are
unchecked, leaves become bronzed or yellowed and the plant dies.  
     Early infestations can often be eliminated by handpicking or
by washing the plants with an insecticidal soap solution. Since
pests may be hidden or in the egg stage, it often takes more than
one treatment to eliminate them.
     With a severe infestation, it may be best to discard the
plant along with its soil. If the plant is valuable, a pesticide
may be necessary. 
     Before using a pesticide, be sure to read all label
directions and precautions, and then follow them carefully. You
may want to treat your plant outdoors and bring it inside after
treatment.
     Additional information about various insects is available on
the entomology department's web site at:
http://entweb.clemson.edu/cuentres/ .
                 *****************************
     If you have questions or comments on gardening-related  
issues, write to PSA News & Publications, Box 340311, A-101 Poole
Ag Center, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. 29634 -0311. You
might also want to check out other "Buds and Blooms" columns
under News Releases at:
http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/agcomm/.
                           END