Mealybug Control on Episcia, 1978

Eight insecticides were evaluated for phytotoxicity and control of mealybugs on Episcja grown in a shaded greenhouse in Bradenton, FL. High and low temperatures in the greenhouse during the experiment averaged ca. 32°C and 23°C respectively. Light intensity at the bench surface during the day was ca. 38-54 klx. Mealybug populations had developed on Episcia after infested Caladium tubers were placed into pots of test plants. The experimental design was a split plot in 4 blocks with chemical treatments as whole plots and cultivars as subplots. Subplots con-tained one 6-week old plant in a 4-inch pot. Four weekly treatments, beginning June 15'78 were applied with a sprayer equipped with an open cone nozzle pressurized to 40 psi with CO2. Plants were sprayed until all leaf surfaces were fully wet. Temik granules were applied to soil surfaces once at the beginning of the experiment. All leaf surfaces were observed to record numbers of mealybugs (nymphs and adult females) on July 10.