By Max Sargent


Whether you choose to cultivate your beloved cannabis crop indoors or outdoors, it is a possibility that you will at some point be subject to a pest invasion.

One such pest is known as the cochineal. With its strong appetite for the sap within cannabis plant matter—a substance your plants need to survive, thrive, and pump out healthy and large yields—the cochineal is particularly destructive.

What Is the Cochineal?

There are around 8,000 types of cochineal, but when it comes to cannabis cultivation, two are particularly problematic: the cottony cochineal, aka the mealybug, a white, fluffy bug known to many growers, and the brown soft scale cochineal. Both prefer hot, dry environments, and they survive by sucking the critical life force (sap) from your precious specimens.

  • Cottony Cochineal

More commonly known as the mealybug, this species of cochineal originates in the tropics, and is mobile. Once a female latches onto a plant, her legs are shed, preventing her from leaving the plant. The males, however, are equipped with wings, and thus are more mobile.

Cochineals can reproduce extremely fast, which is not great news for those who come across an infestation. Females can give birth to as many as 2,000 offspring in optimal conditions. These creatures thrive in dry and warm conditions, with populations able to double every five days. They are known as “cottony” because they produce a cotton-like substance on themselves that helps to protect their eggs.

Cottony Cochineal
  • Brown Soft Scale Cochineal

The brown soft scale cochineal originates from Central America, and is a parasitic species that naturally survives on cacti. Like the cottony cochineal, the males are highly mobile and fly around looking for females to mate with. The females have small legs that they use to crawl to a host space, usually the internodes, where they latch on and their legs drop off.

The Aztecs used to harvest this species from the underside of cacti, using deer’s tails as brushes. They would then use the carminic acid within to create carmine, a red dye. The Spaniards then exported this back to Europe, where it became a favorite for dying clothes. Today, it is used as a natural food and cosmetics colouring.

Brown Soft Scale Cochineal

How Are Cochineals Harmful To Cannabis?

Cochineals are harmful to cannabis in a number of ways.

First, they suck the sap out of the plant, stealing its nutrients. As they breed in such high numbers, this can significantly weaken a host plant. Though the infestation itself may not be fatal, it is likely to negatively affect growth, yield, and final quality. However, it is not just their feeding that is bad for the plants.

In order to access the xylem of the plant, they must penetrate it with their sucking mouthpart. Much like a cut to the skin, damage to the outside of a plant opens the door for bacterial and viral infection. So your plant may have much of its nutrients taken, only to find itself infected and with a reduced capacity to fight off said infection.

Finally, cochineals secrete what is known as honeydew, as do aphids and other pests. This sugary substance attracts ants, fungus, and bacteria.

Given all this, it’s important to identify and deal with a cochineal infestation as soon as possible. Not only do they present a problem in themselves, but they can invite other, even more problematic infestations to the party if left to their own devices.

How Do Cochineals Spread?

Cochineals are able to crawl over relatively easy terrain and can relocate to plants that are within 10 metres from their original location. They are not great at dealing with rough ground, though, and for that reason, gravel and uneven soil can be a challenge for them.

Wind also plays a role in how cochineals move from plant to plant. They can be swept away for long distances. Their hairs actually catch and ride the wind like the sails of a sailboat.

How To Prevent Cochineals

One method of protecting your flourishing weed plants from a potential cochineal invasion is to create a buffer zone. This option is much more practical in an outdoor setting. Using plants such as rose bushes, growers can create a vegetative barrier around their weed that can take the invasion in their stead.

As well as serving an ornamental function in the garden, growers can check these defensive companion plants regularly to see if cochineals are present, before the pests have the opportunity to reach your cannabis plants.

As mentioned, the cochineal loves dry and warm climates. Therefore, if you act to prevent these conditions, you can create a strategy to prevent their invasion. Obviously, too wet and humid of a climate can create hospitable conditions for other threats, such as mold. With that in mind, a solution could be to uphold conditions wherein the moisture content is just unfavorable enough for mealybugs and brown soft scale cochineal.

Another method of prevention includes introducing the gracious ladybug into your growing environment. These majestic beings will serve as bodyguards for your cannabis plants, as they are natural predators to the cochineal. They will also serve to protect against other pests, such as spider mites.

How To Prevent Cochineals

How To Fight an Invasion of Cochineals

So, let's get to the process of how to kill mealybugs and brown soft scale cochineals if you find yourself with an infestation. Once cochineals have begun to settle on your crop, they will get to draining the sap, affecting the overall health and performance of your plants. As soon as you see an invasion taking place, it is important to separate the infected plants from the rest of the crop to prevent any further spread. Once this has been completed, thoroughly check the rest of your plants to be sure that they are safe.

Some growers may choose to use insecticides at this point to eradicate this pest entirely. However, the cochineal has a protective outer shell that may protect them from this. Additionally, some growers prefer not to use pesticides due to their knock-on environmental effect.

If you don’t want to use synthetic pesticides, here are some other options:

A concoction of alcohol or soap can be used against them. Add a spoonful of soap into a litre of warm water. Adding methanol to this mixture is also an option. Once mixed, apply it onto your affected plants as a foliar spray.
Using natural predators is another great option. Again, the ladybug is a great choice for this. Similarly, parasitic wasps can be used, depending on whether or not you want them living in your garden.
Another mixture involves dissolving tobacco into soapy water and applying it in the same way as the other mixture.
Oregano mixed in water, and fern leaves mixed in water, can also be used to fight off cochineals.
Diatomaceous earth is a type of sediment made up mostly of silica. It is a completely organic, siliceous mineral. Being microscopic, it pierces the bodies of pests, causing them to die of dehydration. It therefore works as a non-polluting pesticide in your grow. One thing to be aware of, though, is that it can neutralise acidic soil, which may not be good for your cannabis.
A potassium soap and neem oil mixture is another ecologically friendly pesticide. It can both prevent and eradicate infestations, making it useful in multiple situations. Chanceadictin, a compound present in this mixture, stops larvae from entering the adult stage of life, and therefore halts reproduction. Moreover, beneficial garden fauna, such as ladybugs, will not be harmed. And it works as a fungicide too, helping with issues such as powdery mildew.

Prevention Is the Best Cure in Fighting the Cochineal

Cochineal, both brown soft scale and mealybugs, can be incredibly damaging to your crop. As with all ailments, avoiding them in the first place is the best way to protect your plants. Measures such as buffer plants and neem oil should help to stop a full-scale infestation. Combine this with the introduction of beneficial fauna, and you should hopefully find your grow pest free.

However, there’s always a chance something slips through your defenses. This is why regular health check-ups are so helpful—you want to catch things early. If you identify an invasion, act fast and don’t be afraid to use an aggressive method. Removing them as quickly as possible will cause you, and your plants, the least amount of stress possible.




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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: