Mealybugs are common pests of houseplants. They are pink, soft-bodied insects covered with a white, waxy, cottony material. The white “fluff” helps protect them from excessive heat and moisture loss. Unlike their relatives the scales, most species retain their legs throughout their life and can move around.
Insecticides. Insecticidal soaps, horticultural oil, or neem oil insecticides applied directly on mealybugs can provide some suppression, especially against younger nymphs that have less wax accumulation. Be sure to test for phytotoxicity of these materials prior to treatment as well.
Dawn dish soap makes them melt right off then rinse with a hose. Mix 2 tbsp soap to 1 gal water and you can add 1 tsp neem oil to it so it sticks.
Signs or Damage of Mealybugs
Damaged plants wilt, curl and discolor. Leaves may drop prematurely, and fruit may fail to form properly. Twigs and small branches may die back. Mealybugs excrete a sweet substance known as honeydew, which often develops into black sooty mold.
Some species of mealybugs give birth to live young. After several weeks, the nymphs develop into adults. Male nymphs secrete a tiny, fluffy cocoon and develop into winged adults.
Mealybugs may be difficult to control and unless the plant is particularly valuable, it may be best to throw away infested plants before the insects spread to other houseplants. The standard, well-known remedies for houseplant pests are often successful if applied with diligence and persistence.
Spray Insecticidal Soap directly onto visible mealybugs for control. The insecticidal soap serves as a contact insecticide and does not have residual effects, so repeated applications are necessary for continued control. Monterey Neem Oil can be applied directly to active infestations.
Are Mealybugs Harmful? Mealybugs are not harmful to humans.
Mealybugs are easy to deal with. They are susceptible to most pesticides, horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps, alcohol wipes, and systemic pesticides. First, give the plant a wipe down, taking care to wipe off that cottony-looking substance.
In pots, ground mealybugs are concentrated on the outer portion of the rootball, between roots and the pot, but also occur throughout the root mass.
Vinegar. Vinegar will also kill mealybugs. Spray your plants with a mixture of one part vinegar to three parts water to get rid of the bugs. Unlike other options, vinegar is actually beneficial to certain plants, but should still be used very carefully as it will harm most plant species.
Question: Can I put peroxide in the soil to kill the mealybugs on our schefflera? Answer: I don't recommend it. While hydrogen peroxide is not likely to kill your huge houseplant, it's not going to kill your mealybugs either.
Mealybugs tend to be drawn to certain plants that are abundant with juices they prefer to feed on. Citrus trees are particularly susceptible, and mealybugs can pose a serious threat to some commercial crops, such as mango. 4 Mealybugs can infest various indoor houseplants, particularly tropical species.
Neem oil is a natural ingredient extracted from the neem tree that has insecticidal and fungicidal properties. Apply it to leaves and stems to control mealybugs if other methods have not been effective, as neem oil can negatively impact beneficial insect populations as well as garden pests.
Mealybug honeydew, the pests' sticky waste, also causes mold growth on plants and attracts other insect pests. Mealybugs do not bite or spread disease to humans. What are the signs of a mealybug infestation?
Grain mites are known for leaving a brownish tinge called “mite dust” on contaminated food, and since their size is so small, this is often the best sign of their existence. If you find grain mites in your home, dispose of any contaminated food.
Toss Your Infected Plants
In this case, the easiest thing to do would be to toss the plant to keep the pests from spreading to your other plants.
Female mealybugs can't fly, and some even struggle to crawl, so they can't go far. If you're noticing a sudden surge of mealybugs, it's likely because they came in on a plant, in pots, or on tools. Check these things before bringing them into your house or leaving them in your garden.
Does cinnamon kill mealybugs? Cinnamon is not effective at killing mealybugs directly. It may have some antifungal properties and deter certain pests, but for mealybugs, targeted insecticides or natural remedies like neem oil and rubbing alcohol are more effective.
The first step is to kill the adult mealybugs. Dip a q-tip, cotton bud, cotton ball or cotton pad in rubbing alcohol (not 100% isopropyl alcohol). Press that on to every adult you can find, wiping them off the leaves as you go. It works instantly and those evil fluff-balls will turn orangey-brown when dead.
Mealybugs are common pests of indoor plants. They can also be serious pests of outdoor plants in warmer climates, such as Florida and California. Adult females are oval, 1/5 to 1/3 inch long, and have a waxy, white, cottony appearance.
Minute pirate bugs feed on mealybugs. Crab spiders like this one, from the Thomisidae family, feed on mealybugs. Adult (left) and larva (right) of the mealybug destroyer lady beetle, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, feeds primarily on mealybug eggs.
Take 1 ounce of apple cider vinegar and mix it with 2-3 ounces of water. Pour this liquid into a garden sprayer and spray in the evening. Apple cider vinegar stops the molting process of mealybugs, and will also help to kill the majority of pests on the plants.
The ground mealybug (Rhizoecus falcifer) is the most common soil mealybug, occurring on the roots of many house plants, especially African violets.
Proper care will also help prevent mealybug infestations. "Reduce watering and fertilizing and wipe foliage regularly," she says. "If you have an infected plant, it is vital to quarantine it to prevent the spread to other plants."