Mealy Bugs are insects that can infest many different types of plants.
No matter whether you’re dealing with bug infestations on your plants, or you’re dealing with bug infestations in your soil, the fact remains that any gardener can encounter problems caused by unwanted bugs.
Mealybugs have been known for their deadly feeding habits; mealybugs can usually be found in groups of thousands on or around the stems, leaves, and fruits of plants.
In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about these annoying little creatures, including how to recognize when you have an infestation, what treatments are available to help prevent or treat them, and how to eliminate Mealybugs from your plants.
Understanding Mealybugs
What Are Mealybugs?
Soft-bodied bugs can grow to a size of around “1/4 of an inch”(0.63 cms) with more than 2,000 varieties available!
The Females typically have Infestations, which are sexually dimorphic.
Females’ identification should be easy because they have unique features such as a white waxy coating, which is why they often appear to be cottony; also sometimes the Females have spikes and can look like “aliens”. A typical life span for a Female is 1-2 months.
Males, however, look quite different; Males have wings, and multiple eyes and there isn’t any waxy coating on the Males. The Males typically live for about three days and their only purpose of existence is to mate with Females before their death.
Life cycle consists of a number of stages.
- Eggs (up to 600 can be laid by the adult female)
- Nymphs (often yellow or pink)
- Adults
Despite their surprisingly short life span, each stage has a substantial part in increasing rapidly and providing for future generations of infestations. Since they reproduce so quickly and tend to hide from view in out-of-reach and difficult-to-manage areas, managing hungry and thirsty insects is very difficult.
Where do mealybugs come from?
Plants that are from these areas originally have moved into other parts of the world (temperate zones) primarily through global commerce (trade). However, they still perform best in warmer (tropical and subtropical) climates.
Additionally, some varieties travel with the plant itself and/or are present in the soil surrounding the plant. Therefore, before introducing any new plants into your home, it is essential to inspect them.
Identifying Mealybug Infestations
White Bugs can usually be found on plants very easily. Due to their white bodies contrasted against green foliage, you will easily see when they are present. As they live in colonies, once you see one, there are probably many more nearby.
Check the underside of the green leaves for white waxy material. In addition, if there are orange-colored eggs located underneath the leaves, this indicates that the females have begun laying eggs.
It is a good idea to eliminate these pests as soon as possible to prevent them from reproducing quickly.
Signs Of Mealybug Damage
Symptoms of damage include:
- Plants losing vibrance
- Yellow, curled leaves
- Black mold
- A white waxy coating on the plant’s roots
If a plant receives prompt treatment for an infestation, there is a chance for that plant to survive. An infestation that lasts a long time will prevent the plant from being able to produce energy resulting in the eventual death of the plant.
The Dangers Of Mealybugs To Plants
Aphids feed on the sap from the plants. When they feed on the sap, it causes the plants to stop growing, their leaves become yellow, and the plants start drooping. When the infestations take the nutrients that the plants need to survive away from the plants, the result could be death.
The honeydew is another way you can damage plants. The sticky honeydew can promote the growth of black sooty mold, which could affect the health of the plants adversely.
The importance of leaves in converting sunlight into the energy that allows a plant to grow is called photosynthesis. Without this process, no plants would be able to survive! Honeydew will limit the ability of a plant to perform photosynthesis and will have negative consequences for the health of plants.
Are Mealybugs Harmful To Humans?
These pests do not pose a major hazard to humans. But overexposure to them can cause:
- Allergic reactions
- Nasal infections
- Eye infections
- Skin irritation
Wear gloves when cleaning and treating bug infestations and try to avoid contact with the bugs as much as possible. Always wash your hands thoroughly after being in contact with bugs.
People who have health problems or breathing issues should be particularly careful when cleaning up after a bug problem.
Prevention and Early Detection
It is essential to for a healthy plant maintain and to stop expensive damage from happening by preventing infestations.
Inspect: All you need to do is to regularly inspect your plants for early signs of pests to prevent serious pest issues.
Quarantine: Anytime you purchase new plants for your home or garden, be sure to thoroughly inspect the plants and quarantine them prior to planting them in your home or garden. Quarantine will help ensure you do not introduce mealybugs or any other unwanted bug to your existing plants.
Hygiene: Keeping your garden clean is one of the best ways to maintain good plant health and hygiene, while also ensuring your plants are not stressed or overcrowded, and that all your garden tools are properly cleaned so bugs are not transported from one plant or area to another.
Following these three simple procedures will greatly reduce your risk of insect infestation and will allow you to have a healthy and productive garden.
Natural Remedies for Mealybugs Control
In addition there are many ways to eradicate bugs using natural remedies. Using natural remedies allows you to control bug infestations naturally while creating a non-toxic organic garden.
There are three common methods to eliminate bugs using natural remedies: isopropyl alcohol, neem oil and insecticidal soaps.
Listed below are additional details regarding the use of these natural products and how to effectively eliminate bug problems through natural remedies:
Isopropyl Alcohol
Soak the end of a cotton swab into some isopropyl alcohol and rub it along the surface of each bug. This allows the alcohol to penetrate through the waxy membranes of the insect, destroying them on contact.
Insecticidal Soap
Insecticidal soaps are available as pre-made products, however, if you would like to create your own insecticidal soap you may do so by mixing mild dish detergent with water. This soap will help to smother and kill the insect.
When using insecticidal soap, be sure to thoroughly coat all areas of the infected plant(s), especially the under surfaces of the plant leaves since that is where the pests typically remain hidden.
Neem Oil
Neem oil comes from the seed of the neem tree, and this natural and organic product works well to manage pests.
Compared with chemical insecticides, the impact on the environment is much lower when using neem oil. Neem Oil will break down into its natural form and when used correctly, there is little danger of harming beneficial insects.
Neem oil disrupts the lifecycle of insects by preventing them from feeding and reproducing.
Additionally, neem oil acts as both a fungicide and as an insecticide because it is effective against fungal diseases as well.
How To Apply Neem Oil
To properly use neem oil you should dilute it first in water. You should apply diluted neem oil as either a foliar application or as a soil drench. You may also purchase neem oil sprays already diluted for use on your plants.
Beneficial Insects
Ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps are some of the beneficial insects that eat mealybugs. They will be an excellent addition to your plants as they will help to control the mealybug population.
You can attract these beneficial insects to your garden by planting native plants and wildflowers.
Diatomaceous Earth
Use diatomaceous earth on plants. This powder is abrasive enough to physically damage insects which dehydrates them, and also helps reduce insect populations naturally: by applying the powder to your plants, it will help to keep them free of insects.
Diatomaceous earth has other benefits:
Natural and non-toxic: Diatomaceous earth is made from the fossilized remains of tiny water-dwelling organisms called diatoms, and is considered to be a natural/non-toxic product. It offers a healthier alternative to conventional chemical pesticides for people and pets.
Very Effective Against Many Types of Insects: When applied to a surface, diatomaceous earth has the ability to penetrate the insect’s exoskeleton and cause them to lose moisture, resulting in death. Diatomaceous earth is very effective against a wide variety of insect pests including cockroaches, bedbugs, fleas, and ants.
Environmentally Friendly: Diatomaceous Earth will not pollute the environment, disrupt an ecosystem, or leave behind harmful residues in the environment.
Long-Lasting Protection: Diatomaceous earth will continue to be effective as long as it is dry.
Easy to Use: Diatomaceous Earth is available on the walls and floors of your home or garden. It is easy to sprinkle the product around, either directly on the ground or as a dusting.
Safe for Beneficial Insects: Diatomaceous earth will kill insects that have an exoskeleton, while most beneficial insects are unharmed. Be sure to use properly.
Manual Removal
If you’re dealing with minor pest problems, try physically removing them. Use a cotton swab soaked in soapy water or alcohol to manually wipe out the critters. A soft bristled brush may also be used to dislodge the insect from the host plant.
Chemical Treatments for Mealybugs Control
Using chemical treatments to treat them is an option. But you need to consider the potential impact of using chemicals in your home and garden. Let’s break it down:
- pest infestations that are severe and/or beyond control. However, over time it is possible for many of these same pest populations to build up resistance to the products used to eliminate and control their numbers, thus making future control efforts more complicated.
- Chemical pesticides, when used according to label instructions, are not normally harmful to plants. But if chemicals are sprayed on plants that are sensitive to materials used in the formulations or if the application is made incorrectly, serious damage may occur. Testing only a small area of the plant for a possible reaction is highly recommended.
- Chemical insecticides can be dangerous to both humans and pets if they come into contact with the residue of these products that remain on the plant or in the surrounding garden.
- The application of chemical pesticides can also be detrimental to many of the beneficial insect populations in your area, thus upsetting the natural balance of a typical home garden setting.
- Using chemical pesticides adds to the degradation of the environment, as well as loss of beneficial insects and disruption of the local ecosystem.
While chemical treatments can be effective for bugs in the short term, they need to be used with caution. A broader pest management strategy that considers the potential impacts on plants, beneficial insects, and the environment is more advisable.
Additional Tips
Here are some tips to help ensure successful management and prevent re-infestation.
- Cleaning: Ensuring that you’ve removed all traces of the pests in terms of cleaning is one of the most important steps in pest control. There should be no egg remnants in or on your plants, nor should there be any dead pests lying around.
- Inspecting: Monitor your plants on a regular basis; if you have done everything possible to provide a healthy environment for your plants, it is highly likely that they will return.
- Persistent: To stop the return of these pest types, you need to remain diligent in your pest control efforts. It may take you some time before you can eliminate them for good.
- Never Underestimate: When determining the severity of a pest infestation, do not let yourself think that it is not as bad as it may seem to be. As soon as you discover it, take action immediately.