What is growing on my Melocactus?

mikethecactusguy · Post by **mikethecactusguy** » Sun Apr 05, 2020 3:23 pm

Help please in identifying what is causing this grey mess.

: 20200405_081728.jpg (88.89 KiB) Viewed 5792 times

: 20200405_081737.jpg (95.57 KiB) Viewed 5792 times

Dodi Russell · Post by **Dodi Russell** » Sun Apr 05, 2020 3:36 pm

Spider web ???

mikethecactusguy · Post by **mikethecactusguy** » Sun Apr 05, 2020 6:38 pm

Thanks Dodi
Some of it does look like a web but most of it looks like grey cotton.

Post by **Steve Johnson** » Mon Apr 06, 2020 10:38 pm

Hi Mike,

Don't know if it has anything to do with the grey cotton stuff, but I noticed a spine mealybug on your Melo:

: 20200405_081728_02.jpg (110.5 KiB) Viewed 5719 times

Start here...

https://cactiguide.com/cactipests/#mealybugs

…then follow up for additional info here:

http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/viewtop ... 24&t=42129

You may have seen my presentation before -- if so, now would be a good time to review the section describing short-term and long-term solutions dealing with all types of scale insect.

mikethecactusguy · Post by **mikethecactusguy** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 12:18 am

Hi Steve
Thanks for the observation. I found that white "thing " you noticed in the photo. It never moved. It was a piece of perlite.
I am going to take your advice and use a systemic on all my cactus .
right After this next set of rain storms, i'll water everything with some Bayer.
Mike M

Sarraceniacrazy · Post by **Sarraceniacrazy** » Tue Apr 07, 2020 2:47 am

Looks like a spider mite infestation.

7george · Post by **7george** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 12:57 am

Do you see any damage? Can be just some spider breeding on the top of that cactus.

Dodi Russell · Post by **Dodi Russell** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 5:04 am

Sarraceniacrazy wrote: ↑Tue Apr 07, 2020 2:47 am Looks like a spider mite infestation.

Do spider mites build nest like that ?

Sarraceniacrazy · Post by **Sarraceniacrazy** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 6:38 am

Dodi Russell wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2020 5:04 am
Sarraceniacrazy wrote: ↑Tue Apr 07, 2020 2:47 am Looks like a spider mite infestation.
Do spider mites build nest like that ?

Yes. Spider mites make webs like a spider.

Post by **Steve Johnson** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 8:03 pm

There are two types of pest mite that infest cacti -- red spider mites (RSM) and false spider mites, AKA flat mites. The climate Mike and I live in isn't conducive to RSM, although flat mites are a problem I've had to deal with for years. Flat mites don't spin webs, but RSM sure do. From Wikipedia, here's an example of what RSM infestation looks like with a bazillion of the little nasties crawling all over their webs:

: Red_spider_mite_(Tetranychus_urticae).jpg (106.35 KiB) Viewed 5633 times

Mike, I don't think the webs on your Melo are anything more than plain old spiders -- nothing to worry about.

mikethecactusguy · Post by **mikethecactusguy** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 8:48 pm

Thank you Steve
I applied some Isopropyl yesterday and I think it may have done some damage to the cephalium.
See what happens.

Sarraceniacrazy · Post by **Sarraceniacrazy** » Thu Apr 09, 2020 10:39 pm

Yea, i dont know as much about cacti as Steve for sure. Heres a spider mite(Tetranychus urticae) web. One of the more common ones. Its what i first thought of when i saw your pic.

: 160930-216-Red-spider-mite-grape.jpg (129.17 KiB) Viewed 5622 times

Plus it kind of looks like lots of lil bugs in the web.

: 20200405_081737(1).jpg (25.92 KiB) Viewed 5621 times

What is growing on my Melocactus?

What is growing on my Melocactus?

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