When we talk about the pests of geraniums, we can usually mention four: aphids, moth caterpillars, mites, and the American moth.
1. Aphids
THE aphids they settle on young leaves and shoots, sucking the sap of the plant in large colonies. Shoots, young, developing leaves are distorted at the site of suction. Their feces contain a lot of sugar in which black fungus, the soot mold, settles. If they occur, protect them regularly by spraying with pesticides. Organic spray juice can also be made from nettle root, although its effect is not clear.
2. Butterflies caterpillars
THE gamma bagolylepke (Autographa gamma) the caterpillar chews the young leaves, leaving irregularly shaped holes in the edges or in the leaf blade. THE cotton owl butterfly (Helicoverpa armigera) is a relatively new pest, the caterpillar of which consumes the still closed nipple from the inside. It is possible to control with absorbable plant protection products.
Gamma owl butterfly
THE
geranium most often the two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) which settle on the back of the leaf. The eight-legged, tiny animals weave a cobweb-like web that makes the downy standing geranium barely noticeable. As a result of the suction, the leaf turns yellow, turns brown and then falls off. They multiply en masse in particularly dry, warm weather. We can protect against them with acaricides.
3. Mites
Two-spotted spider mite
The
American butterfly (Metcalfa pruinosa) has appeared in Hungary in the last few years. The animal is 2-3 mm long and snow white. Like aphids, it overwhelms shoots and young leaves en masse. Its damage is similar to that of aphids. Control, on the other hand, is much more difficult because the animal’s body is covered with a thick layer of white wax. This layer of wax is also applied to the shoots, from which the shoot also receives a white coating, this coating can only be removed mechanically (by washing) even after the destruction of the pests.
4. American butterfly warbler
American butterfly
A newcomer: the American butterfly. His bizarre-looking larvae jump up to disturb and fly away. They have no natural enemies yet, and they accept almost any plant as a host plant
