The Garden Community for Garden Lovers
 
hoya105

By Hoya105

Devon, United Kingdom Gb

Can anyone help with a pest question?? I have a large black pest that has landed on my chili plants that are over-wintering in my house. It seems to reappear no matter what i spray on it. I have uploaded some pictures to help with identification - there is a close-up for those who cannot make out what it is.......



Picture_009 Picture_012 Picture_007

Answers

 

Felis catus can be a big problem, try putting cocktail sticks all over the top of the pot, this should discourage the pest!!!!

1 Jan, 2012

 

I don't think that you will be rid of that in a hurry .

1 Jan, 2012

 

I think you can get a repellant at the Battersea Dog's Home :-)

1 Jan, 2012

 

Well white Puss on plants is usually cuckoo spit...This has me baffled.

1 Jan, 2012

 

We have this pest too, but doubled.

1 Jan, 2012

 

Oh dont you just love them. I have one of these and its also black, he is 12 in March and hopefully we are stuck with him for a long time yet as he is the best pest we ever had! You can replace a plant but not what a beloved pet gives us.

1 Jan, 2012

 

It is quite unusual to find felis catus var. nigra on chillis and as you will have discovered there is danger not only to the plants but to the overturning of the entire pot. the cocktail sticks are a good idea, or you may like to try a spray of a product called Scratch No More which does discourage this particular little darling - best to keep it off the leaves.

Alternatively you could try supplying a pot without a plant in it, perhaps in an attractive ceramic cover, where the pest could really spread itself and be more comfortable.
Though it looks from the final picture that at least one pot already has no plant in it!

1 Jan, 2012

 

Oh, and Hoya - is that strange light the missing sun? If so, please share it!!!

1 Jan, 2012

 

He looks so smug in the second photo!

1 Jan, 2012

 

Looks like it likes it feet on the ground, re chillis, you could try and lure it away with a kebab!

1 Jan, 2012

 

Oh Hoya, I have the same pest, almost identical in fact. But mine loves Thyme! Nothing I do seems to deter it but in all other respects I love it and as it doesn't appear to do too much harm I have decided to leave it be when it appears on the plant. You can see a photo of it on my blog of today.

2 Jan, 2012

 

Oh dear ... all these felix catus lovers!! The best way to deter the problem is with a good douse of water, which in this case will kill the problem completely for a few weeks, and when a second dose of the disease threatens to return, a further application of water will cure it forever!! When this disease returns home drenched my neighbours are resigned to knowing how and where it happened!! The problem is now only associated with new breeds invading my patch.

2 Jan, 2012

 

Ah, me thinks you don't like this particular pest Avkq47... Although it has to be said thatI have been to known to treat foreign breeds the same way!!

2 Jan, 2012

 

Good for you digginfit - this is a pest on a par with the doggus curus, except that walking in the remains of the latter is easier to remove by hosepipe than digging up the former in your ruined veggie plot - toxoplasmosis and all sorts of nasty diseases in your soil. OWNERS' NOTE : provide a litter tray for your own cat and clean up the mess yourself!! Also stick a bell on the little blighter to protect my birds!! If I were PM they would all be licensed and subjected to the cat fouling law ... grrrr!

2 Jan, 2012

 

Thank God you're not PM!

2 Jan, 2012

 

PM = prime minister, pre menopause, post menopause ... take your pick! I will continue to drench any new additions to the felix cactus arriving in my garden ... a new super duper 30m pump action water gun is at my disposal ... This girl is armed and primed!!

2 Jan, 2012

 

Avgk please note this particular pest is on his own ground and in the house, so I reckon dousing with water isn't really an option here. Felix cactus sounds like one of Blodyn's friends!

2 Jan, 2012

 

Spot on Steragram,bit of banter going on here.All good for a giggle.

2 Jan, 2012

 

:))))

2 Jan, 2012

 

Thank you for all the comments and advice. I do indeed use the water spray when i see any of the three resident pests on the veg beds - as well as fleece covers which deter the pheasants too! Indoors i have provided fleece cushions adjacent but Swift (the little black one) prefers the chilies! I now have had a huge grey stray cat turn up as well - he would need a 20 litre pot at least ! Ah well - at least i don't suffer from rodent problems......

3 Jan, 2012

 

There is always a silver lining...

3 Jan, 2012

 

:-))))

3 Jan, 2012

How do I say thanks?

Answer question

 


Related questions

Not found an answer?