Sasha CampbellMealybugs are common pests that can damage many kinds of plants. A severe infestation can weaken a plant and may eventually kill it.
You may find these pests on leaves, stems, flowers, fruits, and other aboveground plant parts [1]. Some species also live in the soil and feed on plant roots.
People may confuse mealybugs with woolly aphids.
Mealybugs often hide in tight spaces. For this reason, it is important to control them before their numbers increase.
Identification
Mealybugs are small, soft insects covered with white wax. Many look like tiny pieces of cotton.
You may find them on indoor plants, outdoor plants, and plants grown in greenhouses. They often hide under leaves, inside leaf joints, and along stems.
As mealybugs feed, they release a sweet, sticky liquid called honeydew. Ants may feed on it. Black sooty mold may also grow on it.
Ants sometimes protect mealybugs from insects that would normally eat them. This can make an infestation harder to control.
Mealybugs attack many kinds of plants. These include flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, herbs, and houseplants.
Jade plants, basil, crape myrtle, azaleas, cacti, fiddle-leaf figs, hibiscus, and orchids are some common hosts.
Most mealybugs live on leaves and stems. However, root mealybugs live in the soil and feed on plant roots [2]. Their feeding may cause yellow leaves, wilting, weak growth, and fewer flowers.
Common Signs of Mealybugs
- White, cotton-like insects or egg masses
- Sticky honeydew on leaves
- Black sooty mold
- Yellowing leaves
- Early leaf drop
- Slow or stunted growth
- White wax around a pot’s drainage holes
Plants Commonly Attacked by Mealybugs
Mealybugs can attack many plants. They are often found on the following:
- Succulents
- Cacti
- Orchids
- African violets
- Citrus trees
- Hibiscus
- Fiddle-leaf figs
- Jade plants
- Hoyas
How to Get Rid of Mealybugs Naturally
The following home remedies and lower-risk methods may help control mealybugs. Several treatments may be needed because eggs and hidden insects can survive the first treatment.
1. Remove Them by Hand
Hand removal works well for a small infestation.
Use a damp cloth, soft brush, or cotton swab to wipe the pests from the plant. Check under leaves, along stems, and inside leaf joints. Remove any white egg masses you find.
Repeat this every few days because hidden eggs may hatch later.
2. Horticultural Oil
Horticultural oil can control mealybugs by covering and smothering the pests it touches.
Choose a product labeled for mealybugs and for the type of plant you are treating. Coat the stems, leaf joints, and undersides of the leaves.
Follow all directions on the product label. Apply it during the cooler part of the day. Do not treat wilted or heat-stressed plants.
Test a small part of the plant first. Some plants are sensitive to oils. Avoid spraying open flowers where bees are feeding.
3. Pruning
Cut off plant parts that have many mealybugs. Pruning can quickly remove large groups of pests and their eggs.
Place the cut pieces in a sealed bag and throw them away. Do not leave them near healthy plants.
Clean your pruning tool before using it on another plant.
4. Insecticidal Soap
Insecticidal soap can kill mealybugs when the wet spray touches them. It may not kill insects hidden under leaves or inside plant crevices.
Choose a product labeled for mealybugs and the plant you want to treat. Spray the stems, leaf joints, and undersides of the leaves. Follow the directions on the label.
Test the product on a small part of the plant first. Wait one or two days to check for damage.
Do not use Dawn or another dish detergent as a replacement. Dish detergents are not made for plants. They may remove the protective coating from leaves and cause burns [3].
You can try a ready-made insecticidal soap.
5. Beneficial Insects
Lady beetles, lacewings, tiny parasitic wasps, and other helpful insects may feed on mealybugs.
Grow a mix of small flowers to provide food and shelter for these helpful insects. Avoid broad insecticides that can kill both pests and their natural enemies.
You can also buy beneficial insects. Purchased insects often work best in greenhouses or other enclosed spaces. They may fly away when released outdoors.
The mealybug destroyer, or Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, is a type of lady beetle used to control citrus mealybugs and several other species [4].
6. Neem Oil
Neem oil comes from the seeds of the neem tree. Neem-based products can help reduce young mealybugs when the spray reaches them.
Older mealybugs have a thick waxy covering that can protect them. Repeat treatments may be needed.
Neem products come in different strengths. Mix and apply the product exactly as the label directs.
Spray during the evening or another cool part of the day. Do not treat wilted or heat-stressed plants. Avoid spraying open flowers where bees are feeding.
7. Control Ants
Ants feed on the honeydew that mealybugs release. They may protect mealybugs from lady beetles and other predators.
Controlling ants may allow natural predators to reach more of the mealybugs.
You can use various organic methods to control ants in the garden. Avoid spreading products where children, pets, or helpful animals may reach them.
8. Debug Turbo
Debug Turbo contains neem oil and azadirachtin. It is used to control several insects, mites, plant diseases, and other problems.
It is also listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute for use in organic production [5].
Use this product only if the current label lists mealybugs, your plant, and the place where you plan to spray. Mix and apply it exactly as directed.
Do not assume that an organic product is harmless. Keep it away from children and pets. Wear the protective clothing listed on the label and follow all other safety directions.
9. Gargoil
Gargoil is another product used to control mealybugs and other soft-bodied pests.
Its active ingredients are garlic and cinnamon oil. The product is also labeled for certain plant diseases, including powdery mildew and downy mildew [6].
Follow the current label carefully. Make sure your plant, the pest, and the treatment location are listed. Wear the protective clothing listed on the label.
10. Hose Them Off
A stream of water can knock many mealybugs from a plant.
For houseplants, wash the leaves and stems over a sink or outdoors. For garden plants, use a garden hose.
Use a firm but gentle stream so you do not break stems or damage leaves. Focus on the undersides of leaves and other hiding places.
Repeat every few days until you no longer see the pests. Water sprays are among the methods recommended by the University of California Integrated Pest Management Program [1].
11. Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol can kill mealybugs when it touches them. This method works best for a small infestation on a houseplant.
Dip a cotton swab in 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Dab the alcohol directly on each mealybug.
Do not pour or spray alcohol over the whole plant. It may burn the leaves.
Test it on a small area first. Wait one or two days because plant damage may not appear right away [7].
12. Isolate Infested Plants
Move an infested houseplant away from healthy plants as soon as possible.
Isolation helps stop young mealybugs from crawling onto nearby plants. It also makes it easier to check and treat the affected plant.
Keep the plant separate until you no longer find mealybugs, egg masses, or fresh honeydew.
13. Clean Pots and Plant Supplies
Young mealybugs may hide on pots, plant stakes, trays, and other supplies.
Wash reusable pots and trays before using them again. Clean gardening tools after working with an infested plant.
Remove fallen leaves and other plant material from the area. Do not reuse badly infested potting mix.
14. Manage Root Mealybugs
Root mealybugs are harder to control because they live in the soil and throughout the roots.
If you suspect them, gently remove the plant from its pot. Look for white wax on the roots, inside the pot, or around the drainage holes.
Keep the plant away from healthy plants. Changing the potting mix alone may not remove all the pests or their eggs.
Place a badly infested plant and its potting mix in a sealed bag before throwing them away. Do not place them in compost.
If you want to save the plant, ask your local Extension office about a product labeled for root mealybugs and your type of plant. Follow the label carefully.
Clean the work area, tools, trays, and nearby pots. Do not pour vinegar, dish detergent, alcohol, or ordinary garden sprays into the soil.
FAQ
What causes mealybug infestations?
Mealybugs often enter the home or garden on infested plants. They may also hide on pots, plant stakes, and other plant materials.
Warm, protected conditions can help them reproduce. Crowded plants make the pests harder to find and allow them to move between plants more easily.
Too much nitrogen fertilizer can also create plenty of soft new growth where mealybugs like to feed.
Can plants recover from mealybug damage?
Yes. Many plants recover after the infestation is controlled.
However, a severe infestation can stunt growth, cause leaves to fall, and weaken the plant. In some cases, the plant may die.
Should I throw away a plant with mealybugs?
Not always. You can often save a plant if you find and treat the infestation early.
However, a badly infested plant may continue to spread mealybugs to healthy plants. Throwing it away may be best if it keeps getting worse after repeated treatments.
Place it in a sealed bag before disposal.
How do I know if my plant has mealybugs?
Mealybugs look like small white insects covered with cotton-like or powdery wax.
You may find them on stems, under leaves, inside leaf joints, around new growth, or near the roots. Other signs include sticky honeydew, black sooty mold, yellow leaves, and slow growth.
Do mealybugs spread to other plants?
Yes. Young mealybugs can crawl from one plant to another.
They may also travel on infested plants, pots, stakes, gardening tools, clothing, or hands. Moving air may carry the tiny young insects a short distance.
How long does it take to get rid of mealybugs?
The time depends on the size of the infestation.
You may control a small infestation within a few weeks. A severe infestation may need repeated treatments for several weeks or months.
Check the plant at least once a week. Treat new pests as soon as you find them.
Can mealybugs live in the soil?
Yes. Root mealybugs live beneath the soil and feed on plant roots.
They may cause yellow leaves, wilting, poor growth, and fewer flowers. White wax around a pot’s drainage holes can also be a warning sign.
Are mealybugs harmful to humans?
No. Mealybugs do not bite people or pets. They are not known to spread diseases to humans.
Their main effect is the damage they cause to plants.
Can I Prevent Mealybugs From Coming Back?
Yes.
- Inspect new plants before buying them.
- Keep new houseplants separate for several weeks, if possible.
- Avoid using too much nitrogen fertilizer.
- Leave enough space between plants.
- Check stems and leaf joints each week.
- Clean pots, tools, and plant stakes.
- Isolate infested plants right away.
- Remove dead leaves and plant waste.
Takeaway
Mealybugs can be difficult to remove because they hide in small spaces and have a protective waxy covering.
Early action gives you the best chance of controlling them. Isolate the plant, remove visible insects, and check it every few days.
Water sprays, hand removal, rubbing alcohol, labeled insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, neem products, and natural predators can all help. Several treatments may be needed to remove newly hatched and hidden mealybugs.
Always follow product labels. Even natural and organic treatments can harm plants, people, pets, and helpful insects when used incorrectly.
This is really a welcome development as all the remedies convey here is Integrated Pest Management (IPM), this will reduce chemical Application by our humble farmers. Once again u re really great