Byfield Fern Pests
- The byfield fern is misnamed, as it is not a fern but rather a cycad, a type of slow-growing, hardy plant. Native to dry sclerophyll eucalypt forests in central eastern Queensland, the branched leaves of the byfield fern stand straight up and feature six to 10 leaves per mature plant. Leaves are oval-shaped, green and shiny with serrated edges. The plant itself reaches heights of up to 5 feet and produces green or purple seeds in an oval shape. These forest plants require moist, well-drained soil, filtered sun and high humidity to thrive.
- Numerous species of this pest insect attack cycads, which suck the sap from cycad leaves. Common varieties of scale feature oval-shaped with armored shells that are waxy to the touch and are 1 to 6 mm long. Varieties that are known to attack cycads include palm scale, pink wax scale, soft brown scale and fern scale. Allow birds to eat scales, or remove them by either picking them off the plant individually or using an insecticidal soap spray. Parasite wasps may be used for scale problems in greenhouses.
- Mealy bugs are oval-shaped bugs about 2 mm in size that suck the sap from the leaves and stems of cycads. Color varieties include pale pink, gray or pale yellow with white wax covering their bodies. They resemble white fungus patches as they tend to multiply in large colonies, often on the underside cycad crown or within the crown. Prune light infestations or use rubbing alcohol-soaked Q-tips on the insects to control. Use insecticidal soap, or spray insecticides for large infestations.
- Termites and borers are two insects that will attack the roots of unhealthy cycads and cause further damage. Plant sweet basil around your byfield ferns to repel termites, or try introducing ants and nematodes to your garden, as both of these insects eat termites. Borer control methods are most effective when the insects are in the larvae stage via insecticides. Also prune dying or dead branches to make your ferns less attractive to borers.