Amorph Blues

From: Neil Gordon <neil at ng23.abelgratis.co.uk> on 2004.07.03 at 19:03:46(11709) Posted this a couple of days ago, but it didnt appear to get posted, so here it is again..... ...apologies if you got it already. Ok, after recieving two Amorphs from Wilberts yearly distribution, i've been eagerly awaiting a bud to appear. Every couple of weeks, ive been gently brushing aside the soil to see if anythings happening. Now, the A. Declinatus was only a very tiny corm less than 1cm across, and started to make a pointy little bud shape not long after i recieved it, (maybe a couple of weeks) and then stopped. Ok, was still firm, and a good colour - up until today that is, when i decided to check again as all of my other Amorphs are now either well into bud or nearly in full leaf. So i brushed the soil aside, found the corm, still same size (obviously!) still with the tiny bud shape on top, but to my dismay, was squishy when held. So i broke it in half and what was inside? One of these little buggers. http://www.ng23.abelgratis.co.uk/bug/damn_bug.jpg It was (past tense intended!) about 5mm long. Does anyone recognise what it may be? Is it contagious? Should I spray the soil of my other amorphs with insecticide? Fortunately the A konkanensis i also recieved is now starting to bud, but the Declinatus was, of the 2, the one I realy wanted. Isnt that always the way. ANY help apreciated. Thanks in advance. Neil +More On the plus side, the Titanum seeds have started to gernimate!

From: Dan Levin <levin at pixar.com> on 2004.07.04 at 09:38:40(11711) Neil- I knew exactly what pest you'd found even before I clicked on the link to view your image. Sadly, I find these all too often in the rotting tubers/ corms of many aroids; Amorphophallus and Alocasia especially. The pest you discovered is the larval or maggot stage of (enter sinister organ music...) the ubiquitous Fungus Gnat. Thing is- and this is important- it is my firm belief based upon years of rotting more aroid tubers/ corms than I'd ever admit to in a public forum, that these fungus gnat larvae are more akin to a nasty secondary infection and are rarely if ever the primary causal agent. +More Not to diminish their impact; I'm sure the larvae -greatly- accelerate the demise of any tuber/ corm they infect, but there always seems to have been an initial case of rot or decay in said plant parts which has preceded the invasion. Even if it's only a matter of hours or one day... i.e. I've never observed fungus gnat larvae laying siege to a healthy tuber- though they are reputed to eat root parts and consequently stunt plant growth. Once fungus gnat larvae are discovered inside a tuber or corm, the problem is most certainly compound and not quite as simple as "eliminate the pest and all will be well... " You will have some fungal or bacterial rot to contend with and by implication, sour compost or media. If you google "fungus gnat" you'll find pages & pages of info; most Universities with an Ag school offer info on this pest & potential controls. A few such sites hosted here in the states: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7448.html (UC Davis) http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/B/I-DP-BRAD-LV.004.html (a Larvae image) http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2114.html (Ohio State) http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/uc/uc-028.html (Texas A&M) My advice for hatching Wilbert's micro mail-order Amorpho tubercles: - Never overpot, stick to a suitably sized container - Keep moist but never wet, unless growing in very high heat in a media/ pot with great drainage and much air movement - Check/ lift the little tikes every other day; scrupulously check for rot or desiccation... it's a fine line! Checking them daily is not too often. - If you have fungus gnats in your growing area, by all means: drench the soil in all of your pots with an appropriate insecticide on a preventative basis. By the time your application needs to be curative, you're too late. I'd be happy to offer info/ personal data on effective pesticidal chemistries, but will refrain from doing so unless asked. Hope this is of some help, I wish for you much success. -Dan Neil Gordon wrote: > So i broke it in half and what was inside? One of these little buggers. > http://www.ng23.abelgratis.co.uk/bug/damn_bug.jpg > It was (past tense intended!) about 5mm long. > > Does anyone recognise what it may be? Is it contagious? Should I spray > the soil of my other amorphs with insecticide? >

From: Neil Gordon <neil at ng23.abelgratis.co.uk> on 2004.07.04 at 16:26:59(11714) Thanks for the reply, that seems to clear that one up then! When i got the tuber, it was dry and shrivelled, but plumped up nicely when it was planted with a little water, then the bud poped up n stopped, as i said earlier, so something happened several weeks before i discovered it rotten. On another note, I had an infestation of mealy bugs last year, and i couldnt get rid of them until someone here suggested putting a little vinegar in the insecticde as it dissolved their shells. Does this acidic mix adversely harm or stunt the plants? The mix worked well on the Aloes they were munching - the bugs were unstoppable til i used that stuff! Neil +More On 4 Jul 2004, at 10:38, Dan Levin wrote: Neil- I knew exactly what pest you'd found even before I clicked on the link to view your image. Sadly, I find these all too often in the rotting tubers/ corms of many aroids; Amorphophallus and Alocasia especially. The pest you discovered is the larval or maggot stage of (enter sinister organ music...) the ubiquitous Fungus Gnat. If you google "fungus gnat" you'll find pages & pages of info; most Universities with an Ag school offer info on this pest & potential controls. A few such sites hosted here in the states: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7448.html (UC Davis) http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/B/I-DP-BRAD-LV.004.html (a Larvae image) http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2114.html (Ohio State) http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/uc/uc-028.html (Texas A&M) My advice for hatching Wilbert's micro mail-order Amorpho tubercles: - Never overpot, stick to a suitably sized container - Keep moist but never wet, unless growing in very high heat in a media/ pot with great drainage and much air movement - Check/ lift the little tikes every other day; scrupulously check for rot or desiccation... it's a fine line! Checking them daily is not too often. - If you have fungus gnats in your growing area, by all means: drench the soil in all of your pots with an appropriate insecticide on a preventative basis. By the time your application needs to be curative, you're too late. I'd be happy to offer info/ personal data on effective pesticidal chemistries, but will refrain from doing so unless asked.

From: Dan Levin <levin at pixar.com> on 2004.07.04 at 22:06:59(11715) Neil, I must respectfully suggest that adding vinegar to your spray mix resulted in a net positive only due to the buffering of your water's pH, which resulted in greater efficacy of the diluted insecticidal solution-- and not due to some acidic dissolution of body parts. May I venture a guess that your tap has a somewhat high pH/ alkalinity/ hardness ? +More Certain insecticidal compounds exhibit an "ideal" pH range and become less toxic to target pests outside of this zone. Indeed, many products specify a pH value which the tank mix must be buffered to prior to application for best results (almost always towards the acidic side of neutral). I further suspect -but freely admit I am not an entomologist- that spraying mealy bugs w/ lightly acidified water; i.e. spraying with only a vinegar solution & no other insecticide- would merely result in soggy mealy's with their exoskeletons fully intact. You're likely to destroy your plants before you reach a potential capable of "dissolving the mealy's shells", either in part or whole. Potential confusion over the effects of acidity may derive from the common use of boric acid in the battle against cockroaches & other crawling insects. In this case however, the insecticidal properties of boric acid have nothing to do with it being an "acid" but rather, the absorbent quality each salt crystal or particle has (same principle applies to diatomaceous earth, silica gel, etc.). Hence a passing insect which contacts the material has a patch of cuticle wax absorbed, resulting in the insect slowly dehydrating via the breach. In any event, if adding vinegar to your spray results in mealy slaying synergistic pest control with no visible phytotoxicity, just keep doing it whatever the reason! -Dan Neil Gordon wrote: > > On another note, I had an infestation of mealy bugs last year, and i > couldnt get rid of them until someone here suggested putting a little > vinegar in the insecticde as it dissolved their shells. > > Does this acidic mix adversely harm or stunt the plants? > > The mix worked well on the Aloes they were munching - the bugs were > unstoppable til i used that stuff!

From: Neil Gordon <neil at ng23.abelgratis.co.uk> on 2004.07.05 at 00:38:52(11716) On 4 Jul 2004, at 23:06, Dan Levin wrote: Neil, I must respectfully suggest that adding vinegar to your spray mix resulted in a net positive only due to the buffering of your water's pH, which resulted in greater efficacy of the diluted insecticidal solution-- and not due to some acidic dissolution of body parts. May I venture a guess that your tap has a somewhat high pH/ alkalinity/ hardness ? In any event, if adding vinegar to your spray results in mealy slaying synergistic pest control with no visible phytotoxicity, just keep doing it whatever the reason! -Dan Well, it was Balsamic ! ;-) Neil +More (Thanks for the info)

From: "G. D. M." <doji at interpac.net> on 2004.07.05 at 01:16:48(11717) Neil, Be very careful in using vinegar around plants. I use it straight from store bought (cheapest) as a spray that top kills weeds almost immediately - within a few hours. If you continue, test a drop on a small section of leaf to see if a dead spot appears at your dilution first. If so, keep diluting or just save for salads! I agree completely with Dan that the critical factor is the pH of the applied insecticide. Check with your water supplier, they test water quality and constituents constantly and will give you the pH of the water, as well as lots of other things, for the price of asking. Or invest in some pH test strips that will give you a number that is close enough. Here in Hawaii a lot of plants coming in like, bananas, are required to go through a hot water bath of 140 F for up to 20 minutes just to kill whatever might be in them. Surprisingly, most survive. On tiny geophytes a much shorter time would be needed. Then cool off in room temp. H2O 'till the corm/bulb/tuber/rhizome is back to ambient temperature. I'll try to remember to do this this winter with some A. konjac offsets when they go dormant and report the results back to the list. Gary in Hilo, where it rains every day, and in the winter it rains all day.

From: Phil Diamond <pmd at maths.uq.edu.au> on 2004.07.05 at 02:28:27(11718) On Sun, 4 Jul 2004, Dan Levin wrote: > in a public forum, that these fungus gnat larvae are more akin > to a nasty secondary infection and are rarely if ever the primary > causal agent. +More Locally, a commercial grower was having, for the first time, unacceptable losses from fungal infection after deflasking orchid seedlings into community pots. Finally, he brought in the government agricultural extension experts who diagnose it as the gnats, with the fungi entering from root damage. So, he sprayed with insecticide rather than fungicide and his problem disappeared. So, which is primary and which secondary? Cordially, Phil ############################################################################### Dr Phil Diamond pmd@maths.uq.edu.au Department of Mathematics, University of Queensland, Brisbane,AUSTRALIA 4072.

From: "Julius Boos" <ju-bo at msn.com> on 2004.07.05 at 13:14:09(11720) >From: Neil Gordon >Reply-To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu >To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu >Subject: [aroid-l] Amorph Blues >Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2004 20:03:46 +0100 Dear All, Allow me to put in my two-cents worth and suggestions of these fly larvae affecting the Amorphophallus corms. I am going through a simular situation on my job (commercial landscaping installations) with a large number of native Hymenocallis lily plants. The plant goes into a decline when it should be thriving, and when you dig up a bulb you find some large larvae that look like a fly species (NOT the Lepidoptera larvae of moth sps. that sometimes affects these lily species) that have eaten the roots and some of the basal layers of the bulb and are living in cavaties thay have eaten into the underside of the bulb. I think that perhaps both 'yours' and 'my' larvae are too large to be the lavae of the small balck insects I know as fungus gnats, and will try to collect a few more w/ bulb and confine them in a large plastic container covered in saran wrap w/ some holes poked in it, some dry soil below the bulb that th! e larvae can pupate in, and see what comes out! We may be surprised, and I urge anyone who finds these larvae to do the same, makes treatment MUCH easier IF one knows ones enemy!! I used this method to identify what insect made the large galls on leaves of a bay tree, a beautiful yellow-and-black 'bee-fly' emerged, plus many tiny ichneumon wasps that were parasitizing other fly pupae! Good Growing! Julius +More >Ok, after recieving two Amorphs from Wilberts yearly distribution, >i've been eagerly awaiting a bud to appear. >Every couple of weeks, ive been gently brushing aside the soil to >see if anythings happening. >Now, the A. Declinatus was only a very tiny corm less than 1cm >across, and started to make a pointy little bud shape not long after >i recieved it, (maybe a couple of weeks) and then stopped. Ok, was >still firm, and a good colour - up until today that is, when i >decided to check again as all of my other Amorphs are now either >well into bud or nearly in full leaf. > >So i brushed the soil aside, found the corm, still same size >(obviously!) still with the tiny bud shape on top, but to my dismay, >was squishy when held. >So i broke it in half and what was inside? One of these little >buggers. >http://www.ng23.abelgratis.co.uk/bug/damn_bug.jpg >It was (past tense intended!) about 5mm long. > >Does anyone recognise what it may be? Is it contagious? Should I >spray the soil of my other amorphs with insecticide? > >Fortunately the A konkanensis i also recieved is now starting to >bud, but the Declinatus was, of the 2, the one I realy wanted. Isnt >that always the way. > >ANY help apreciated. Thanks in advance. > >Neil > >On the plus side, the Titanum seeds have started to gernimate! >

From: "Wilbert Hetterscheid" <hetter at xs4all.nl> on 2004.07.25 at 10:21:39(11801) Julius, The maggots you describe in your Hymenocallis must be what we here in Holland call "Narcissis fly" (Merodon equestris, of the fly family Sirphidae), a very destructive creature. The fly deposits one or a few eggs close to the neck of the bulb. The young maggots find their way down into the bulb and eat it from inside out and you never saw it before they hatch or the bulb rots away. Bulbgrowers here who fear they may have infected bulbs, put these in warm water for a while (or even hot, ca. 60 C for a short while), which is supposed to kill the maggots. Other than that the only safe way is to have a small net over the developing plant or keep the plant out of the open air (in a greenhouse). There are areas in Holland where you simply cannot keep Amaryllidaceae out in the open. Of course, this thing has nothing to do with fungus gnats. Cheerio, Wilbert +More -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: aroid-l-owner@lists.ncsu.edu [mailto:aroid-l-owner@lists.ncsu.edu]Namens Julius Boos Verzonden: maandag 5 juli 2004 15:14 Aan: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu Onderwerp: Re: [aroid-l] Amorph Blues >From: Neil Gordon >Reply-To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu >To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu >Subject: [aroid-l] Amorph Blues >Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2004 20:03:46 +0100 Dear All, Allow me to put in my two-cents worth and suggestions of these fly larvae affecting the Amorphophallus corms. I am going through a simular situation on my job (commercial landscaping installations) with a large number of native Hymenocallis lily plants. The plant goes into a decline when it should be thriving, and when you dig up a bulb you find some large larvae that look like a fly species (NOT the Lepidoptera larvae of moth sps. that sometimes affects these lily species) that have eaten the roots and some of the basal layers of the bulb and are living in cavaties thay have eaten into the underside of the bulb. I think that perhaps both 'yours' and 'my' larvae are too large to be the lavae of the small balck insects I know as fungus gnats, and will try to collect a few more w/ bulb and confine them in a large plastic container covered in saran wrap w/ some holes poked in it, some dry soil below the bulb that th! e larvae can pupate in, and see what comes out! We may be surprised, and I urge anyone who finds these larvae to do the same, makes treatment MUCH easier IF one knows ones enemy!! I used this method to identify what insect made the large galls on leaves of a bay tree, a beautiful yellow-and-black 'bee-fly' emerged, plus many tiny ichneumon wasps that were parasitizing other fly pupae! Good Growing! Julius >Ok, after recieving two Amorphs from Wilberts yearly distribution, >i've been eagerly awaiting a bud to appear. >Every couple of weeks, ive been gently brushing aside the soil to >see if anythings happening. >Now, the A. Declinatus was only a very tiny corm less than 1cm >across, and started to make a pointy little bud shape not long after >i recieved it, (maybe a couple of weeks) and then stopped. Ok, was >still firm, and a good colour - up until today that is, when i >decided to check again as all of my other Amorphs are now either >well into bud or nearly in full leaf. > >So i brushed the soil aside, found the corm, still same size >(obviously!) still with the tiny bud shape on top, but to my dismay, >was squishy when held. >So i broke it in half and what was inside? One of these little >buggers. >http://www.ng23.abelgratis.co.uk/bug/damn_bug.jpg >It was (past tense intended!) about 5mm long. > >Does anyone recognise what it may be? Is it contagious? Should I >spray the soil of my other amorphs with insecticide? > >Fortunately the A konkanensis i also recieved is now starting to >bud, but the Declinatus was, of the 2, the one I realy wanted. Isnt >that always the way. > >ANY help apreciated. Thanks in advance. > >Neil > >On the plus side, the Titanum seeds have started to gernimate! >

From: "Julius Boos" <ju-bo at msn.com> on 2004.07.27 at 22:58:33(11842) >From: "Wilbert Hetterscheid" >Reply-To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu >To: >Subject: Re: [aroid-l] Amorph Blues >Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2004 12:21:39 +0200 > Dear Wilbert, Thanks so much for the information, it sure sounds like it must be this or some closely related fly that have effectively killed several thousand Hymenocallis lilys on a job I am doing, we have given up on treatments, they live and eat in the root area below the bulb and eventually the whole plant sucumbs to the infestation. Oh well! Thanks again! Any lucck on seeds on the Pseudohydrosmes??? Julius +More >Julius, > >The maggots you describe in your Hymenocallis must be what we here in >Holland call "Narcissis fly" (Merodon equestris, of the fly family >Sirphidae), a very destructive creature. The fly deposits one or a few eggs >close to the neck of the bulb. The young maggots find their way down into >the bulb and eat it from inside out and you never saw it before they hatch >or the bulb rots away. Bulbgrowers here who fear they may have infected >bulbs, put these in warm water for a while (or even hot, ca. 60 C for a >short while), which is supposed to kill the maggots. Other than that the >only safe way is to have a small net over the developing plant or keep the >plant out of the open air (in a greenhouse). There are areas in Holland >where you simply cannot keep Amaryllidaceae out in the open. > >Of course, this thing has nothing to do with fungus gnats. > >Cheerio, >Wilbert > > -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- > Van: aroid-l-owner@lists.ncsu.edu >[mailto:aroid-l-owner@lists.ncsu.edu]Namens Julius Boos > Verzonden: maandag 5 juli 2004 15:14 > Aan: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu > Onderwerp: Re: [aroid-l] Amorph Blues > > > > > > > >From: Neil Gordon > >Reply-To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu > >To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu > >Subject: [aroid-l] Amorph Blues > >Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2004 20:03:46 +0100 > Dear All, > > Allow me to put in my two-cents worth and suggestions of these fly larvae >affecting the Amorphophallus corms. I am going through a simular >situation on my job (commercial landscaping installations) with a large >number of native Hymenocallis lily plants. The plant goes into a decline >when it should be thriving, and when you dig up a bulb you find some large >larvae that look like a fly species (NOT the Lepidoptera larvae of moth sps. >that sometimes affects these lily species) that have eaten the roots and >some of the basal layers of the bulb and are living in cavaties thay have >eaten into the underside of the bulb. I think that perhaps both 'yours' >and 'my' larvae are too large to be the lavae of the small balck insects I >know as fungus gnats, and will try to collect a few more w/ bulb and confine >them in a large plastic container covered in saran wrap w/ some holes poked >in it, some dry soil below the bulb that th! e larvae can pupate in, and see >what comes out! We may be surprised, and I urge anyone who finds these >larvae to do the same, makes treatment MUCH easier IF one knows ones enemy!! >I used this method to identify what insect made the large galls on leaves of >a bay tree, a beautiful yellow-and-black 'bee-fly' emerged, plus many tiny >ichneumon wasps that were parasitizing other fly pupae! > > Good Growing! > > Julius > > > > >Ok, after recieving two Amorphs from Wilberts yearly distribution, > >i've been eagerly awaiting a bud to appear. > >Every couple of weeks, ive been gently brushing aside the soil to > >see if anythings happening. > >Now, the A. Declinatus was only a very tiny corm less than 1cm > >across, and started to make a pointy little bud shape not long after > >i recieved it, (maybe a couple of weeks) and then stopped. Ok, was > >still firm, and a good colour - up until today that is, when i > >decided to check again as all of my other Amorphs are now either > >well into bud or nearly in full leaf. > > > >So i brushed the soil aside, found the corm, still same size > >(obviously!) still with the tiny bud shape on top, but to my dismay, > >was squishy when held. > >So i broke it in half and what was inside? One of these little > >buggers. > >http://www.ng23.abelgratis.co.uk/bug/damn_bug.jpg > >It was (past tense intended!) about 5mm long. > > > >Does anyone recognise what it may be? Is it contagious? Should I > >spray the soil of my other amorphs with insecticide? > > > >Fortunately the A konkanensis i also recieved is now starting to > >bud, but the Declinatus was, of the 2, the one I realy wanted. Isnt > >that always the way. > > > >ANY help apreciated. Thanks in advance. > > > >Neil > > > >On the plus side, the Titanum seeds have started to gernimate! > >

From: "Wilbert Hetterscheid" <hetter at xs4all.nl> on 2004.07.28 at 16:18:13(11862) Dear Julius, The seeds of Pseudohydrosme..............NOW you brought it in the open........!! Anyway, the ovaries are still growing sloooooowly but this also happened the last time and eventually they did abort. I am still surprised I managed to pollinate one effectively 7 years ago and since every attempt has failed (this is to make known that I do NOT have a lawn of Pseudohydrosmes.........). Cheerio, Wilbert +More -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: aroid-l-owner@lists.ncsu.edu [mailto:aroid-l-owner@lists.ncsu.edu]Namens Julius Boos Verzonden: woensdag 28 juli 2004 0:59 Aan: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu Onderwerp: Re: [aroid-l] Amorph Blues >From: "Wilbert Hetterscheid" >Reply-To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu >To: >Subject: Re: [aroid-l] Amorph Blues >Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2004 12:21:39 +0200 > Dear Wilbert, Thanks so much for the information, it sure sounds like it must be this or some closely related fly that have effectively killed several thousand Hymenocallis lilys on a job I am doing, we have given up on treatments, they live and eat in the root area below the bulb and eventually the whole plant sucumbs to the infestation. Oh well! Thanks again! Any lucck on seeds on the Pseudohydrosmes??? Julius >Julius, > >The maggots you describe in your Hymenocallis must be what we here in >Holland call "Narcissis fly" (Merodon equestris, of the fly family >Sirphidae), a very destructive creature. The fly deposits one or a few eggs >close to the neck of the bulb. The young maggots find their way down into >the bulb and eat it from inside out and you never saw it before they hatch >or the bulb rots away. Bulbgrowers here who fear they may have infected >bulbs, put these in warm water for a while (or even hot, ca. 60 C for a >short while), which is supposed to kill the maggots. Other than that the >only safe way is to have a small net over the developing plant or keep the >plant out of the open air (in a greenhouse). There are areas in Holland >where you simply cannot keep Amaryllidaceae out in the open. > >Of course, this thing has nothing to do with fungus gnats. > >Cheerio, >Wilbert > > -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- > Van: aroid-l-owner@lists.ncsu.edu >[mailto:aroid-l-owner@lists.ncsu.edu]Namens Julius Boos > Verzonden: maandag 5 juli 2004 15:14 > Aan: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu > Onderwerp: Re: [aroid-l] Amorph Blues > > > > > > > >From: Neil Gordon > >Reply-To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu > >To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu > >Subject: [aroid-l] Amorph Blues > >Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2004 20:03:46 +0100 > Dear All, > > Allow me to put in my two-cents worth and suggestions of these fly larvae >affecting the Amorphophallus corms. I am going through a simular >situation on my job (commercial landscaping installations) with a large >number of native Hymenocallis lily plants. The plant goes into a decline >when it should be thriving, and when you dig up a bulb you find some large >larvae that look like a fly species (NOT the Lepidoptera larvae of moth sps. >that sometimes affects these lily species) that have eaten the roots and >some of the basal layers of the bulb and are living in cavaties thay have >eaten into the underside of the bulb. I think that perhaps both 'yours' >and 'my' larvae are too large to be the lavae of the small balck insects I >know as fungus gnats, and will try to collect a few more w/ bulb and confine >them in a large plastic container covered in saran wrap w/ some holes poked >in it, some dry soil below the bulb that th! e larvae can pupate in, and see >what comes out! We may be surprised, and I urge anyone who finds these >larvae to do the same, makes treatment MUCH easier IF one knows ones enemy!! >I used this method to identify what insect made the large galls on leaves of >a bay tree, a beautiful yellow-and-black 'bee-fly' emerged, plus many tiny >ichneumon wasps that were parasitizing other fly pupae! > > Good Growing! > > Julius > > > > >Ok, after recieving two Amorphs from Wilberts yearly distribution, > >i've been eagerly awaiting a bud to appear. > >Every couple of weeks, ive been gently brushing aside the soil to > >see if anythings happening. > >Now, the A. Declinatus was only a very tiny corm less than 1cm > >across, and started to make a pointy little bud shape not long after > >i recieved it, (maybe a couple of weeks) and then stopped. Ok, was > >still firm, and a good colour - up until today that is, when i > >decided to check again as all of my other Amorphs are now either > >well into bud or nearly in full leaf. > > > >So i brushed the soil aside, found the corm, still same size > >(obviously!) still with the tiny bud shape on top, but to my dismay, > >was squishy when held. > >So i broke it in half and what was inside? One of these little > >buggers. > >http://www.ng23.abelgratis.co.uk/bug/damn_bug.jpg > >It was (past tense intended!) about 5mm long. > > > >Does anyone recognise what it may be? Is it contagious? Should I > >spray the soil of my other amorphs with insecticide? > > > >Fortunately the A konkanensis i also recieved is now starting to > >bud, but the Declinatus was, of the 2, the one I realy wanted. Isnt > >that always the way. > > > >ANY help apreciated. Thanks in advance. > > > >Neil > > > >On the plus side, the Titanum seeds have started to gernimate! > >

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