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Blueberry Bush Pests

rrbarkerrrbarker Posts: 2
in Problem solving

Hi,

I'm hoping someone might be able to provide me with guidance on a problem I have with my blueberry bush.

The bush is potted in a container on my patio, and successfully fruited last year. This year it has, once again, lovely blossom and looks very healthy...apart from an infestation of some sort image. I wanted to attach a photo but unable to. The best way to describe it is very small brown looking oval shapes, and there are huge numbers of them. They can be scraped off easily. Does anyone know what this might be and how it can be treated? The plant looks healthy otherwise but I know this can't be good for it.

Many thanks.

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    It sounds like scale insects.  As this on an edible fruit bush, you need to be careful about what you spray it with.  The RHS advice is here:

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=224

    "Sprays based on natural substances include fatty acids (e.g. Bayer Organic Pest Control or Doff Greenfly and Blackfly Killer ) or plant oils and extracts (e.g. Growing Success Fruit & Veg Bug Killer, Bug Clear for Fruit & Veg and Vitax Organic 2 in 1 Pest & Disease Control). These pesticides have very little persistence and so may need several applications during the scale's egg-hatching period, but they can be used on fruit trees and bushes"

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • rrbarkerrrbarker Posts: 2

    Hi BobTheGardener,

    Many thanks for the quick response - much appreciated.

    I think you're right, it does look like scale insects (I had a look on other websites and compared photos to what is on the bush). 

    I will try using the recommended sprays following the RHS advice. Fingers crossed this will get rid of them.

    Thanks again for your help! 

     

     

  • Reluctant_GardenerReluctant_Gardener Posts: 284

    Aye, Coccoidea (berrylike) of some sort by the description, The superfamily includes mealy insects  and scale insects.

    Treatment I don't know sorry.

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