About Nancy Expertise I can answer questions on the following subjects:
Pests, chemicals
Showing AVs
Sowing Seeds
Problems with plants
Basics of AV growing
Episcias
Streptocarpus
Experience I am an African violet Advanced Judge in US and Canada. I have written a book on pests of African violets called "Insects, Pests and Diseases of the African Violet Family" My articles appear in African Violet Magazine and Chatter as well as in other magazines.
Organizations AVSA
AVSC
African Violet Society of Greater Montreal
Saintpaulia Society of Montreal
Publications Book author: "Insects, Pests and Diseases of the African Violet Family"
African Violet Magazine, many issues
Chatter Magazine Many issues
Horticulture
Other Magazines
Education/Credentials University of Indiana Master's work (Music)
Awards and Honors Jr. Queen of Show (Pixie Blue) AVSC Convention Montreal
Approximately 100 blue ribbons
25 or so Best of Class
Past/Present clients I sell mostly leaves on Ebay. I sell plants at convention shows and local shows.
Question My husband brought home a dis garden that had a begonia,a kalanchoe,ivy, a mum and a beautiful violet. I separated the plants and discovered what I think are whitefly larvae or eggs. Teeny tiny white specks that don't brush off. I got rid of the other plants. What can I do to save my violets? They're special because my uncle gave them to me and he is deceased now. Help! Never had this problem before!
Answer I would think this is foliar mealy bug rather than white fly eggs or larva, which is easier to take care of than the eggs.
Take a Q-tip and dip into a container of rubbing alcohol. Then drag it across the white specks. They should come up fairly easily if they are foliar mealy bug. Some may turn slightly pink.
If there is a lot and you have to use a lot of alcohol, rince off the plant with warm water because alcohol is very drying.
White flies deposit eggs on the underside of leaves in a crescent shaped pattern. These do not feed but because of their waxy coating are extremely hard to control with pesticides that don't pierce their armour.
Should you see adults emerging, tringular white insects that fly when you put a pencil near them, you can gain control using yellow sticky cards to trap the fliers.
You can spray with an insecticide containing acephate, diazinon or malathion or containing pyrethrins. Spray both sides of the leaves.
A systemic insecticide which acts on the foliage of the plant will eventually get inside the white flies will help but this takes time.
I believe your problem to be foliar mealies rather than whitefly.
