Fuchsia pest threat grows in the UK
Solution sought as pesky mite causes problems
Apest devastating the growth of fuchsias is now quickly spreading around the country. Inadvertently introduced into the UK just 10 years ago, fuchsia gall mite initially spread along the south coast to Devon and Cornwall, but the last few years has seen it transfer inland to London, Oxfordshire, Powys, North Wales, and Cromer in East Anglia, with a recent outbreak confirmed at a nursery in Stockport, near Manchester, currently the most northerly recorded. Readers phoning the GN helpdesk also reported the pest on fuchsias this year. Fuchsia gall mite is also established in Europe, and has been in the USA for 20 years.
The pest, which comes from Brazil, is thought to have been brought into the UK via an infected plant in the suitcase of an enthusiast, and may also have been subsequently imported on plants from infected sources overseas.
Recognising symptoms
The microscopic, sucking insects cause complete distortion and reddening of new shoots, which fail to flower, blighting their appearance. Plants of Fuchsia arborescens, F. magellanica and F. procumbens are particularly susceptible. Symptoms do vary, with some varieties showing distortion with no reddening, and others, such F. triphylla, producing a slight distortion of foliage. Although the small-flowered F. encliandra group may appear to be immune, they may still harbour the pest.
The mite spreads from plant to plant on infected shoots, usually before more serious symptoms appear. Besides direct contact, experts think wind and pollinators may also help the pest to spread.
There are currently no chemical products home gardeners can use to control fuchsia gall mite, although those used on red spider mite may help as a preventative measure.
Pray for a cold winter!
“It’s a worrying situation,” said Derek Luther, of the British Fuchsia Society (BFS). “We’ve even seen the pest on the show bench this year, as people don’t recognise early symptoms, when buds look a little ‘fuzzy’. ”
Awareness of symptoms, hygiene and taking care when obtaining plants are key to helping eradicate the problem says the BFS, but this may well prove impossible. The insects can survive outdoors, helped by warmer weather, on plants, and crevices in greenhouses. It’s thought the mites may not be able to survive below 0C (32F).