Mealybugs: Top tips and treatments

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Written by Plant Sit
Illustration by Cassie Brock

Another day, another infestation 😱 one other common pest is the humble Mealybug, and this blog post takes a look at what we can do when faced with these mini-beasts.

What are Mealybugs?

Usually found in warmer environments, Mealybugs are soft-bodied, wingless insects that often appear as white cottony masses on the leaves of plants. They feed by inserting long sucking mouthparts, called stylets, into plants and drawing sap out of the tissue. Gruesome. 

Now for the details… Adult females deposit 300-600 eggs within an excreted, compact, waxy cottony-appearing mass mostly found on the underside of leaves. This egg laying process continues for about 2 weeks with the female dying shortly after all eggs are laid. Hatching occurs within 1-3 weeks and the small active yellow nymphs begin migrating over the plant in search of feeding sites on which to settle.

How can you spot Mealybugs?

Damage is not often significant at low pest levels. However, at higher numbers they can cause leaf yellowing and curling as the plant weakens. Feeding is usually accompanied by honeydew, which makes the plant sticky and encourages the growth of sooty moulds. This is where we usually spot them as the plant starts to get covered in a web-like sticky substance.

Why do we get them?

Similar to spider mites, it’s hard to say why we get them, but Mealybugs are most common in hot, dry conditions, where their natural enemies (Greenfly, Spider Mites etc) have been killed off by insecticide use. This is why they are common in house plants, as their natural enemies often don’t occur indoors.

Is there any way to control Mealybugs?

Yes, and luckily we have tried & tested lots of different methods at Plant Sit:

  1. Firstly we want to get rid of the visible bugs by cleaning the leaves with soapy water.

  2. If the infestation is really bad at this stage it is best to change the soil. Remove from the pot, get rid of the soil & (gently) wash the roots.

  3. Thoroughly clean the pot (including the outer decorative pot) and repot again with fresh soil.

  4. Now that visible signs have disappeared, it is best to use a treatment. There are so many different ones out there, but good old Baby Bio often works a treat. This is often reapplied every 2 weeks until your plant shows signs of recovery.

  5. Repeat steps if needed.

Preventative Tip

If your plants are prone to bugs, or if you are worried about getting them, a good preventative treatment to use is a mixture of water, neem oil (one capful) & washing up liquid (small squeeze). Works a treat sprayed onto leaves (the underside too!) and wiped around once a week.

If you are unsure about what to do, or would like to chat to someone at Plant Sit, get in touch & we will be happy to help. Happy Halloween! 🎃

Katie Heward