I had seen large lumps of chumbo cactus affected by the whitebugs in previous years in Malaga province and never thought much about it.
Last year it arrived here in the Poniente. This year the plants are dying back and look a right mess. I have a love hate relationship with the plant. Great environment for wildlife is a plus. Horrible fruits but I guess if you were a starving Spaniard during the hunger years they would have been manna. Perhaps they are an acquired taste ?
What is the long term prognosis? Do the plants ever recover? Are the bugs cyclical ( periodic plague for example) or are we witnessing the destruction of an iconic part of the countryside? Every rural house used to have them as they processed grey waste .
Anyone know? What is happening to the chumbo near you?
Chumbo , white bugs
Re: Chumbo , white bugs
A couple of years ago that infestation of cochineal bugs really decimated the chumbos around here and they have never recovered ... and we found those tiny white flies got in through the fly screens and were most irritating ... sad to hear they have now spread inland ...
- country boy
- Andalucia Guru
- Posts: 2829
- Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:49 pm
- Location: U.K. (prev Pizarra 2000/2020).
Re: Chumbo , white bugs
If you want to try and save them (why would you?) I am told that the cheapest way is spraying with a light washing up liquid and water solution but I suspect it will be a forever job as the beetles are here to stay.
I planted over sixty Phoenix Canariensis when we arrived at our Finca in 2000, they are now 18 years old and I am having to spray them 4 times a year with systemic insect killer against the Palm Beetle...I'm really glad I chose Phoenix !!
They do look well though and are the only ones left around here now so I am secretly proud!.
I planted over sixty Phoenix Canariensis when we arrived at our Finca in 2000, they are now 18 years old and I am having to spray them 4 times a year with systemic insect killer against the Palm Beetle...I'm really glad I chose Phoenix !!
They do look well though and are the only ones left around here now so I am secretly proud!.
Re: Chumbo , white bugs
Yes the chumbos, prickly pears, have been killed off where I live.
Personally I am very happy they have gone.
Cheers
Gerry
Personally I am very happy they have gone.
Cheers
Gerry
Gerry Harris
Re: Chumbo , white bugs
We've had the beetle on the chumbos for a couple of years now and although they did die back new growth appeared in the winter. It certainly hasn't killed them off completely although they are looking quite black this year. I do hope it does finish them off as we have too many around our house. There seem to be less of the tiny white flies getting in the house this year which is good.
Re: Chumbo , white bugs
It's quite interesting that the opuntia plant, imported by man from the Americas, is being killed off by the cochineal beetle, which was also imported by man to Europe. The beetles were more useful for their dye than the chumbas were to eat.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 42 guests