Pests and Clivias

Aphids
These are tiny little green, sometimes black insects, usually seen in small colonies sucking the sap of new growths and flower buds. They are normally tended to by ants. Although they cause minimal damage themselves, they do spread viruses. To eleiminate them, use Chlorpyrifos, spraying the whole plant. If you are the organic type, you can collect some Lady Bugs in the garden and place them on the infected plant, the Lady bugs will devouer many aphids daily.

Mealy Bugs
They are small white/light grey wooly looking insects, normally found on new growths, also spread virusus. Getting rid of them, use Chlorpirifos, Malaso, Confidorl or Dursban, spraying they whole plant. Another method is to mix Alcohol and water, and then spraying the whole plant, these little insects also hide beneath the potting mix, so it is important to drench the mix or even dunk the whole plant, pot and all in the alcohol/water mix and then let it drain and dry normally.

Lily Borer
These are black and yellow caterpillars, which feeds on leaves and tunnels into the leaves, berries, stalks and bulbs of various lilies and amaryllids. I have had great success using Garden Ripcord, spraying all the plants. I have also experimented with pots of Marigolds amoungst my Clivias, Amyrillus, and Crinums and it does seem to deter them.

Red Spider Mite
Tiny reddish-brown spiders which weave a web on the underside of leaves. Cause yellowing and bronzing of the leaves. They can be controlled by spraying spidermitespray or Red spidercide

Slugs and Snails
Every gardener knows what these look like, they feed on new growths, use Snailbait to get rid of them. Placing a flat dish filled with beer, will draw them out at night and they will drown. I have also heard that taking a cabage leaf and spreding lard onto it will draw them out at night, only thing is that you will have to go out at night and collect them.