From our perspective, aphids are a constant and draining threat. These tiny, soft-bodied insects, often green or black, congregate on our tender new growth, leaf undersides, and flower buds. They pierce our tissues with their needle-like mouthparts to suck out our vital sap, which is our lifeblood. This feeding weakens us, causing our leaves to curl, pucker, and yellow. Worse still, they excrete a sticky substance called honeydew, which attracts sooty mold fungi that blacken our leaves, further blocking precious sunlight from our photosynthetic processes.
Spider mites are nearly invisible but their damage is not. They are not insects but arachnids, thriving in hot, dry conditions. From our point of view, their attack begins with a subtle stippling of tiny yellow or white dots on our leaves as they pierce and feed on individual plant cells. As the infestation grows, we may become covered in fine, silky webbing, particularly on our stems and leaf undersides. This severe feeding stress causes our foliage to turn bronze, become brittle, and eventually drop, severely compromising our health and beauty.
Mealybugs appear as small, white, cottony masses nestled in the protected junctions where our leaves meet our stems, and even on our roots. They are slow-moving but relentless. Like aphids, they are sap-suckers, draining our energy and causing stunted growth, leaf yellowing, and leaf drop. Their honeydew secretion also leads to the dreaded sooty mold. Their waxy coating makes them particularly resistant to simple remedies, and they can quickly overwhelm us if not checked.
When our foliage is disturbed, a cloud of tiny, white, moth-like insects may flutter up—this is the sign of whiteflies. They typically congregate on the undersides of our leaves, where both the adults and their scale-like nymphs feed on our sap. This massive loss of nutrients leads to a general decline in our vigor; our leaves yellow, wilt, and may become covered in sticky honeydew and sooty mold. Their feeding can also transmit devastating plant viruses from one host to another.
We begonias have a preference for gentle, targeted treatments that rid us of pests without causing further stress or damaging our often-sensitive foliage. For light infestations of aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies, a strong jet of lukewarm water can dislodge the pests. Wiping our leaves with a soft cloth dipped in a mild soap and water solution (1 teaspoon of mild liquid soap per liter of water) is highly effective at suffocating small populations. For persistent issues, we respond well to horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps, which must thoroughly coat the pests, especially on our leaf undersides. For the tenacious spider mite, increasing humidity around us by misting or using a pebble tray is profoundly helpful, as they despise moist conditions. In all cases, we greatly appreciate immediate isolation from other plants to prevent the pests from spreading and giving us the dedicated care we need to recover our strength and vibrancy.
