Disgusting mealybugs at work (Photo by Jane Gates)
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There are a lot of unattractive insects that attack plants indoors and in the garden. The mealybug, however, is one I find particularly disgusting. This sucking insect covers itself with white cottony fluff that makes it difficult to kill with contact insecticides – especially the preferable, gentler ones like insecticidal soap. Mealybugs hide under their protective coating and form great masses of white fuzz with multitudes of mushy, pink insects beneath piercing the skin of the plant and sucking out essential juices. Sometimes these insects can carry disease.
It's often a mystery how these insidious little creatures find their way into plants that are well tended and protected in the house, but they do seem to find their way into even some of the most pampered collections. So be on the lookout.
If you see that white cottony material clustered on shoots, stems, or even little bits of white fluff speckled on leaves, wipe it off with a cotton ball dipped in alcohol. You'll be removing the insect as well, but you will only be removing the adult forms. The younger nymphs will not be visible and it is likely the problem will return as the new generation takes over. To get rid of these disgusting mealybugs you will need to catch them early before the infestation becomes too widespread. And you will have to be vigilant, continually checking and cleaning the plant on a regular basis for a month or two.
The easiest way (though not the organic way) to kill mealybugs (and scale and other difficult to treat sucking insect pests) is to use a systemic insecticide. This is a poison that is applied to the soil as a liquid or in granules and is taken up into the sap when the plant drinks up water. The insects are then poisoned when drinking the sap. Most systemic insecticides have a pungent odor and are toxic if eaten by humans and pets. If you choose to use them, keep children and pets away from treated plants. And never use systemic insecticides on edible crops that you expect to harvest the same year. Using any poisons on food is not something I personally recommend.
The best way to protect plants from these disgusting mealybugs is to check over your plants regularly both indoors and outdoors. If you find these pests early and clean them regularly, you can probably get rid of the problem before it becomes serious.
Comments
Are you trying to warn me about possible new problems. LOL If my plants get bugs, I may let them eat away. This garden thing out her e is about the hardest thing I have tried in a while.
I've often wondered what caused the white cottony fluff is that I see occasionally on my outdoor plants. Thanks for explaining mealybugs.
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