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Woll lice can be recognized by the naked eye
Recognize and combat lice on the boxwood
Woll lice are also referred to as lice (Pseudococcidae), as they have a white, woolly and greasy hair. They are closely related to scale insects. The insect pests infect almost all parts of the plant down to the roots. Here they suck. Often the infestation begins at the underside of the leaf and spreads from there to other areas. These are plant sucker, which extract important nutrients from the boxwood by removing the vegetable juice and thus cause the plant to die.
Harming
A lice infestation can be recognized by the cotton-like white wax wattles, which protect the pests from their predators. The oval, up to seven millimeters long animals with the characteristic lateral grooves bite primarily on the leaves of the boxwood and suck out there the nutrient-rich sap. In addition, as well as other plant sucker, lice excrete honeydew, which in turn attracts fungi and often causes a transmission of infections. Diseased leaves turn yellow, shoots wither and dry up, and in case of heavy infestation the growth of the whole plant can be inhibited.
Woll lice multiply rapidly
Woll lice must be quickly and repeatedly fought, as they multiply rapidly. The animals lay their eggs, which are surrounded by a waxy shell, in the warm season. Only one female Wolllaus produces up to eight generations per year, each with more than 100 eggs. These are extremely resistant and can survive even at temperatures as low as minus 40 ° C.
fight
The regular inspection of the boxwood for a pest infestation is anyway and for various reasons an important and not negligible task. Individual animals can still be collected by hand or dabbed with a cotton swab dipped in neem or rapeseed oil or in high-percentage alcohol (eg vodka). If the infestation is already advanced, this procedure is recommended:
Tips
If you discover white woolen threads on your boxwood, it can also be the boxwood leafflea. Typical feature are the spoon-like bent leaves.