In the last 5 years there have been massive increases of mites (tetranychus ulmi) and woodlouse (pseudococo mini) attacks on plants.

As far as I can see, there are two reasons for such increases. Firstly, there is a lack of rainfall on the island, which leaves pollution in the air, drys out the leaves and weakens the plants. Secondly, the infrequent rainfall is often full of mud, coating the leaves and clogging the pores of the plants.
Vicente Cleries The woodlouse is a sucking insect that feeds on the sap of the plants producing a weakening followed by the death of the affected branches (possibly leading to the death of the whole plant). It attacks many plants like the Bougainvillea, night jasmine, evergreens, oleander, lantana, olives, oranges, pomegranates, Viburnum, Phornium, cypress, and many other plants.

The first symptoms of such attacks are the blackening of the leaves. This is due to the woodlouse secreting a surgery liquid mix that favours a saprophytic mould, “Fumago Vagans”, which is the cause of said blackening of the leaves and the plant in general.

I recommend treatment or sprayings of at least two times during a 2 month period. The products to use are the insecticides for these pests (Dicofol, Tetradifon, Cihexaestan). and can be found in garden centres. Another voracious plague, the mini cotton woodlouse, we will have to fight with DURBAN (clorpirifos). A measure of 2 cc/l mixed with summer oil and 10 cc/l water all together.
Ácaros
Cochinilla   My experience is when it is treated with the adequate insecticides, like the ones I mentioned before, we can have healthy plants again.
If we all pitch in we can fight these plagues.

Ctra. San Juan, km. 2,9
IBIZA - BALEARES
Tel.: 971 311 113
Fax: 971 190 624
email: eivissgarden2@terra.es