What will effectively kill the insect attacking my cactus?

Question

I have a cactus in my yard being attacked by an insect and the insect sprays that I have used don't kill the insect and then leave marks on the cactus. The cactus have been where they are for more than 5 years and only recently did this bug appear. The insect attacks the newer growth and leaves white globs that when touched turn a deep red. I saw a documentary once that said this red stuff was collected to make a red dye. The actual name of the cactus is unknown to me. In my area they take young leaves and make "nopales" sp? after scraping the needles off. It is also produces a redish "pear" thing that blooms now and then. I have already chopped off affect section in one attempt to get rid of it and it returned. At first glimpse it looks like a white fly infestation. It is making the cactus look terrible and sickly. Is there a home remedy that would work? I was surprised when I used "home defense" insecticide and it failed.

Need what ever works to be safe around dogs and children. One cactus in front yard where neighborhood kids and animals could come in contact what I use on the cactus. Other Cactus in back yard were there is a dog.

Answer 1

Sure sounds like Cochineal scale. You are right the scale has been used to make a red dye for centuries. The cactus is Opuntia or more commonly called prickly pear cactus.

Control is tough, you'll have to treat often since the crawlers (babies) are almost invisible, they are that small.

Take a sponge and moisten with insecticidal soap, it will "dissolve" the scales outer coating. If that fails, mix in some horticultural oil (or use it by it's self). It smothers the scale. I wouldn't be spraying either chemcial willy-nilly as either one might damage the cactus.....might, I'm not sure. You could test an area first. Spraying would be easier than dabbing with a sponge.....what with the thorns!

These are two nontoxic to humans and animals cure. The other, use a systemic insecticide renders the plant inedible.

Answer 2

I dont know if this will help, but maybe it can get you on the right track to the info you need:


The Edible Prickly Pear Cactus: The pads or Nopales (Spanish term for the Prickly Pear pads) are often used in salads, soups, or cooked on the grill. They have an Okra-like 'slime' after cooking that some people find unpleasant and should be rinsed off before serving.
http://austin.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsi...

Answer 3

Nicotine is a restricted insecticide so you can't buy it anymore. But you can make a spray by getting some cigarettes (not the sissy kind--the ones that have so much nicotine they make your lungs bleed). Soak the cigarettes in water for a day and you'll have your mix. If it's too strong it can hurt plants (especially roots) so don't overdo it.

There is also a systemic insecticide, Disyston. That is taken up by the roots.

Answer 4

properly all insecticides have risky outcomes. yet some are lots safer than others. How ever the safer ones must be used lots extra usually to be powerful. Dish cleansing soap and water, Cooking oil and water, the two insecticides by way of fact they smother the bugs who ought to breath by their epidermis. Backing soda and water is a fungicide. you may bypass to the shop and purchase insecticidal soaps and oils. All of those are low impact on people. you additionally can use organic and organic administration, real stable bugs to combat off undesirable bugs.

Answer 5

I agree with the scale diagnosis and horticultural oil works to a degree with adult scale by smothering them. Check with your local Extension office as to when scale is most likely to be hatching then you can treat the crawling babies with an insecticide. If you go the Nicotine route try chewing tobacco rather then cigarettes. It seems to work better.

Answer 6

Insects become a nuisance when they enter homes. Instead of spending money on costly pest control, you can get rid of insects by removing the food source and using soap water. I found the information at http://www.pests.in useful.

Answer 7

I have had good luck using Sevins Dust and it is safe to use around pet and kids. It has never left any marks on the plants I use it on, but I havn't used it on Prickly Pear.

Answer 8

the most potent poision/insecticide is nicotine so if you could get a hold of that then you could kill all the bad insects

Answer 9

try mastergardner.com they know everything, good luck.

Answer 10

TRY PLANT POISON