Bugs on Penta plant - July 22, 2016 - Ask Extension
I have a penta that is growing well (outdoors), but have in the last 2 days seen several bugs on it and I want to make sure they aren't harmful. Yest...
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Bugs on Penta plant - July 22, 2016 #345498
Asked July 22, 2016, 10:59 AM EDT
I have a penta that is growing well (outdoors), but have in the last 2 days seen several bugs on it and I want to make sure they aren't harmful. Yesterday the bugs were pale pink and green, today they are darker, more purple, and not much bigger (photo shows today with a penny for scale). There also appear to be babies, tiny and darker green, between kelly and lime shades. They are very shy, and hide rather than fly when I put my hand on the stem they are on, though they look like they have wings. The plant as I said appears healthy and is growing pretty quickly. We water ever few days it doesn't rain, as the heat has been over 90 degrees for several days. We add Miracle Grow to the water. I've also been spraying them with Liquid Fence every 2-3 weeks to keep deer away - we have a very large herd in the neighborhood. I was going to go to monthly sprayings, but saw evidence some of the flowers had been nibbled off.
If these bugs are harmful, can you recommend an insecticide that is environmentally safe, and safe for my Penta, and if possible safe for the bees that come to eat from it.
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
Your bug looks like a plant hopper and we do not notice any significant damage. The following link covers control, etc. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advi... Keep in mind that the more fertilizer you use, the more insects that you may have on your plants. One control not mentioned in the link is that of simply smashing any insects that you see that could potentially be problematic. vw