Begonias can lessen victim to various critters that are looking for a tasty bite in your garden . One common culprit is the caterpillar , which can leave little , rotund holes in the begonia leaves . These holes can be a revealing sign that cat are play havoc in your garden .
Another irritating plague that delight feast on begonias is the earwig . These insects have pincer on their rear end and can chew through the leaves , pull up stakes behind damage similar to that make by caterpillars . If you comment small , round holes in your begonia leaves and also fleck earwig in your garden , they may be the I responsible for the damage .
Fungus gnat are another type of critter that can be problematic for begonias . These midget flies are draw in to the damp grunge and can infest the roots of your begonia plant . They lay their eggs in the filth , and the larvae feed on the plant ’s roots , causing damage and stunted maturation . If you notice an influx of modest flying insects around your begonias and see their larva in the soil , fungus gnats could be the culprits .
mealy bug are yet another pest that can target begonia . These humble , white insect are often found clustered together on the farewell and stems of plant life . They lactate sap from the begonia , induce yellowing and wilt of the leaves . Mealybugs can be difficult to get rid of , as they have a protective waxy coating . If you see flossy white clusters on your begonia plants and notice signs of wilt , mealybugs may be the cause .
To combat these critters and protect your begonia , there are a few steps you could take . foremost , regularly inspect your plants for any signs of equipment casualty or plague . Catching the problem too soon can make it easier to hold in . Secondly , withdraw any affected leaves or parts of the flora to prevent the pests from circulate further . Pruning can also aid meliorate air circulation and make your flora less attractive to certain pests .
Consider using born remedies or organic insecticides to control the critters . For cat , you’re able to handpick them off the industrial plant or use Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt ) , a raw bacteria that specifically targets caterpillars . For earwigs , trap can be in force in reducing their universe . white-livered gummy traps or rolled - up wet newspaper place in the garden can draw and pin these gadfly . For fungus gnat , allowing the filth to dry out between waterings can help interrupt their life cycle . you could also apply sticky traps to appropriate the grownup flies . mealybug can be treated by wiping them off with a cotton mop dunk in rubbing alcohol or using insecticidal max .
In my own experience , I have dealt with cat munch on my begonias . I noticed the little hole in the leaves and detect the caterpillars when inspecting the plants . I pick them off by hand and monitored the plants closely to see the plague was under control . It take some prison term and effort , but I was able-bodied to bring through my begonias from further damage .
Begonias can be targeted by various critters such as caterpillars , earwig , fungus gnats , and mealybugs . By stay on wakeful , regularly inspect your plants , and taking appropriate meter to control these pest , you’re able to protect your begonias and ensure their healthy growth .
Caroline Bates
