In warmer climates, however, they can pose a serious problem for entire crops.
Read on for methods that will help you get rid of mealybugs outside and on houseplants.
Females die after laying the eggs.
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In a week to 10 days, the eggs will hatch into yellowish crawlers.
Once crawlers have found a spot to feed, they progress to the various nymph stages.
Female mealybugs go through three more stages, while males go through two.
The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
What Are Mealybugs?
Mealybugs are small, oval sap-sucking insects related toscale insects.
These warm-weather bugs measure 1/10 to 1/4 inch and secrete a powdery wax substance as a protective coating.
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Mealybugs belong to the Pseudococcida family.
Mealybugs eat plant sap.
The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
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Neil Palmer
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Neil Palmer
This is best for light infestations, as some fragile plants do not tolerate vigorous treatment.
From there, repeat the treatment whenever mealybugs reappear.
Next, wipe the mealybugs off with the cotton ball, which kills them instantly and removes them.
The Spruce / Marie Iannotti
Repeat treatment weekly until the infestation is completely gone.
you could also make insecticidal soap by mixing 1 teaspoon of dish soap with 1 gallon of water.
Spray the soapy solution on all the plant parts, including the underside of the leaves.
Repeat biweekly or weekly if the infestation persists.
Method 4: Use Neem Oil
Mixneem oil, which is an organic insecticide.
Repeat every seven days until the infestation is gone.
It is not recommended if you have a severe mealybug infestation and need quick results.
All of these natural predators are more commonly used for outdoor infestations or in greenhouses.
To introduce predatory insects, plant host plants that attract them, or purchase them from commercial online retailers.
Make your garden a welcoming environment for predatory insects by offering food sources and shelter.
Don’t use broad-spectrum pesticides.
Mix into 1 quart of water and steep for 1 hour.
From there, strain through a cheesecloth and add 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap.
Repeat as needed after a few days.
The mixture can be stored for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
Method 7: Use Mealybug Traps
Pheromone traps are an effective way to get rid of mealybugs.
Place the traps in high spots such as a trellis to catch male-winged mealybugs.
you might also place some on low stakes in the ground.
Place traps about 10 feet apart.
If the infestation persists, follow the pesticide label instructions for repeated tool.
What Causes Mealybugs?
How to Prevent Mealybugs
The best control for mealybugs is defensive.
Healthy, vigorous plants are less susceptible to infestation than weak, underpotted, and stressed plants.
However, mealybugs can infect even healthy plants.
Often, they come in on new plants, because greenhouses are the perfect breeding ground for them.
Check any new plant purchases carefully before adding them to your collection.
Mealybugs vs.
The methods for getting rid of scale are very much the same as for mealybugs.
Use one that contains no more than 70% alcohol and soak it in a cotton ball.
From there, wipe the mealybugs off the impacted plant.
This will instantly kill them.
It can be difficult to get rid of mealybugs because they are able to reproduce quickly.
