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Updated January 2003

Pests and Diseases

Pests

The most serious pest in the growing of Begonias is without doubt Vine Weevil. The little blighters are whitish/grey in colour and about one quarter of an inch long. They tunnel into the tuber and sometimes the damage is difficult to see as what they eat is deposited behind them filling in the hole they have made. Unless treated they can destroy the tuber completely. The parent is a long, hard skinned, beetle which lays it's eggs around the stem of the plant in spring where the eggs hatch and another generation of vine weevils do the damage. Treatment has been made easier in the last few years with Provado being available for a one of treatment to control this pest. The author has found this very effective indeed, although some were seen on untreated cutting tubers, this year.

The Vine Weevil parent Vine Weevil

The past year has seen a few incidences of infection by Tarsonemid mites. These are very small, nearly invisible without enlargement, so their presence is only observed by the damage sustained by the plant. They feed on the young tissue within the plant causing distortion and discolouration.  It is believed that they can be controlled by repeated applications of a suitable insecticide.

Diseases

Powdery mildew is probably the disease seen most frequently and is better controlled by a prophylactic spray programme of Tumbleblite. This should be used three times in a season even although no mildew is evident. The other very bothersome disease is Stem Rot. It starts as a brown patch on the stem and if allowed will penetrate right through the stem. However if it is seen early it can be cut out, the wound dried with a tissue, and a 30% solution of Rovral applied. This will stop the rot in its tracks.

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