What to Do About Mealybugs on Houseplants — Empress of Dust

Discover ways to establish, handle, and forestall mealybug infestations in your houseplants with sensible suggestions for recognizing indicators early and maintaining vegetation wholesome.

When you’ve obtained little leaping bugs, see the following pointers for eliminating fungus gnats.

Dealing With Mealybugs

Mealybugs are one of many extra irritating houseplant pests—and so they typically appear to seem out of nowhere. At first look, they seem like fuzzy white lint, however they’re really bugs, and a cussed one at that.

Everybody has sure bugs that give them the creepy crawlies and mealybugs are definitely that for me! The outbreak on the vegetation pictured right here is kind of superior however hopefully you’ll be able to take care of yours earlier than it will get this far.

Hold studying to study what mealbugs are, why they’re an issue, and most significantly—easy methods to eliminate them.

What Are Mealybugs?

Mealybugs are soft-bodied bugs within the Pseudococcidae household, carefully associated to aphids. There are millions of species worldwide, with many varieties current in your native space—even in the event you by no means see most of them.

Whereas some assault plant roots (African violets are a favourite goal), those that feed on the aboveground elements of houseplants are extra widespread indoors.

Find out how to Spot Them

Close up of mealybug on houseplant. — Mealbuy on stem of houseplant

Mealybugs normally seem as fuzzy white flakes or cottony patches on stems and leaves. You may mistake them for mildew at first.

A better look—presumably with a magnifying glass—will reveal oval-shaped bugs, typically coated in waxy, white threads. Their egg plenty additionally resemble that very same white fluff.

Are Mealybugs Dangerous?

Houseplant infested with mealybugs. — This poor houseplant is overrun with mealybugs

In small numbers, mealybugs are normally not deadly to vegetation. However their feeding habits and the mess they go away behind can weaken your vegetation, make them look terrible, and create different issues.

Right here’s what they do:

Feed on sap by tapping into the plant’s phloem tissue (the half that transports sugars).
Weaken vegetation by stealing vitality and vitamins.
Excrete honeydew, a sugary waste product that draws ants and promotes sooty mould.
Improve danger of illness by making vegetation extra weak to pathogens and different bugs.
Unfold simply from plant to plant, particularly once we usher in new contaminated houseplants.

Ants typically shield mealybugs as a result of they love the honeydew.

Outside, pure predators normally maintain them in examine—however indoors, the place there are not any such helpers, mealybugs can rapidly flip a wholesome plant into one thing scraggly, sad-looking, and coated in white fuzz.

Mealybug Life Cycle and Unfold

Mealybug nymphs (crawlers) are the cell stage and might unfold simply from plant to plant. They’ll hitch a trip in your fingers, clothes, or instruments.
Grownup males can fly, however they don’t feed and solely reside just a few days—simply lengthy sufficient to mate.
Females could lay a whole lot of eggs or give delivery to reside younger.
A number of generations can happen per 12 months, particularly indoors.

Find out how to Get Rid of Mealybugs

As soon as you see them, act rapidly. One feminine can lay a whole lot of eggs, and populations develop quick.

Methods to Fight Mealybugs on Houseplants

There’s no single technique that works in each case, however listed below are some efficient methods you’ll be able to attempt:

Isolate infested vegetation. Hold them away out of your wholesome vegetation to stop spreading.
Bodily take away them. Spray sturdy vegetation with water to knock bugs off or use a cotton swab or tissue to wipe them away by hand.
Apply diluted rubbing alcohol. Dab particular person bugs with isopropyl alcohol utilizing a cotton swab. You’ll possible have to reapply each few days as new ones emerge.
Spray with horticultural or mineral oil. Combine 1–2 tablespoons of oil (akin to child oil) with water and a drop or two of dish cleaning soap in a sprig bottle. At all times take a look at a small patch first, then coat stems and leaves, together with the undersides.
Use neem oil. Both type of neem oil—clarified extract or full-spectrum with azadirachtin—can intrude with mealybug feeding and replica. This explains the kinds of neem oil.
Strive organic controls. Useful bugs like inexperienced lacewings or “mealybug destroyers” (Cryptolaemus beetles) can devour mealybugs. This technique is utilized in greenhouses however it is probably not sensible—or fascinating—inside the house.
Skip the chemical pesticides. They are usually ineffective in opposition to mealybugs and might trigger different hurt.

Prevention Suggestions

The very best protection is prevention. Right here’s easy methods to keep away from future infestations:

Examine all new vegetation earlier than bringing them indoors.
Our information on bringing vegetation indoors has suggestions.
Quarantine new arrivals for a few weeks.
Hold vegetation from touching one another, which helps stop crawlers from transferring throughout leaves.
Clear instruments and wash fingers earlier than dealing with every plant.
Monitor vegetation commonly for indicators of hassle.

Mealybugs are persistent, however you don’t should reside with them. With common monitoring and some focused therapies, you’ll be able to knock down their numbers and maintain your houseplants wholesome.