The Garden Community for Garden Lovers
 
bloomer

By Bloomer

yorkshire, United Kingdom Gb

Camellia problem..help and ID please..
Since the new leaves started to appear,they have been infested with tiny black eggs? on the undersides of most of them....and also Ants..The leaves are distorted and and turned yellowish,..The following photo is a close up of two off the leaves.. I have since taken as many of the new distorted leaves off,but new emerging leaves are also being affected. Lower down the Camellia,the new foliage appears to be unaffected,and the normal shade of light green..
I have only used a garlic barrier spray,to see if it would deter them,or thrown water over to try and dislodge the Ants..hope you can advise me what to do,please..



Img_0025

Answers

 

Those are aphids, and if you use something to get rid of them, the ants will go away.

10 Jul, 2014

 

Not sure they're aphids, I think they're scale insects that just haven't laid their eggs yet. Spray with Provado ultimate bugkiller, making sure you get the underside of the leaves covered with spray in particular. The ants are neither here nor there, its the honeydew produced by both aphids and scale they like.

10 Jul, 2014

 

Thank you both for your suggestions..I have never had this problem on any of my plants or shrubs,before ..Is it particular to Camellias,or a general thing?

10 Jul, 2014

 

Camellia is susceptible to scale infestation, but so are many other plants. Infestation rates vary year on year.

10 Jul, 2014

 

Ok,thanks..I will spray tonight,when it's cooler,and the sun has gone off it.much appreciated..

10 Jul, 2014

 

I'd go with black fly [a colour form of aphid/greenfly] and they are being farmed by the ants. The blackfly secrete a sugary waste [honeydew] and the ants use it as a sugar source.

10 Jul, 2014

 

Thanks Sbg,whatever they are,they are horrible..I don't normally use chemical sprays,but I found some lurking in the shed..so had a go with that last night,and just looked this morning,and it appears to be working,as some of the leaves don't look as infested.. ..It's very difficult spraying undersides of leaves, for it not to come back at you, so I had my version of a Jihab over my nose and mouth. an old tea towel :o)

11 Jul, 2014

How do I say thanks?

Answer question

Related photos

  • Camellia - Margaret Davis picote
    Bonkersbon
  • White camellia 'Nobilissima' (Camellia japonica (Camellia))
    Gee19
  • Mum's Camellia (Camellia japonica (Camellia))
    Janey
  • Camellia
    Milky

Related blogs

 


Related questions

Not found an answer?