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Mealybugs are a frustrative pest in any context , but when it comes to houseplant , they can become a straight nightmare .
Theponytail palm ( Beaucarnea recurvata)are especially vulnerable , as these industrial plant trust on stored water to thrive .
Ponytail palm with mealybug in the crown. Get rid of light infestations with rubbing alcohol
While we ’ll be focalise on ponytail plant trouble or infestation , the come after hint and intervention methods will work on most out-of-door or indoor plant .
ascertain out these articles for more specific information :
What Are Mealybugs Pests?
close resembling a cottony version of pill bug , mealy glitch are a multi - segmental pest that ranks with shell worm and spider mites as some of the most common and destructive flora plague .
They have a multi - segmented consistency covered in a protective waxy coating . These features contribute to an almost cotton - similar appearance .
The pestis , which is consider to have originate in Florida , is endemic throughout the US . Some regional byname for this pest are :
Most species are white , but other colors may include brown , ointment , European olive tree , pinkish , and yellow .
mealybug have a very little lifespan , living only about 30 days . houri have a thick waxy coating . This coating disappears as the houri matures .
grownup females can lie 500 testis in a unmarried clasp where farewell connect to the stem turn or along the leaf veins themselves , allowing this blighter to multiply exponentially if not dealt with cursorily .
Unfortunately , you often wo n’t comment a mealybug infestation until they ’re already well - constitute . They often obscure in the base ( root word mealybug ) of an infested industrial plant and can easily spread to neighboring plants .
Their tiny sizing have in mind they ’re also pro at hiding in tiny crevices . mealybug are often mistaken for mildew or fungus until you bring in the infection is moving .
Thankfully , as with aphid , pismire glean gritty bugs honeydew . Spotting an ant lead to one of your plants is often a deadened giveaway .
What Damage Does Mealybug Cause?
Mealybugs are know to lay waste to entire crops , but they find even more at house in your own home , where it ’s warm and dry .
This puts your indoor works at high risk of an plague .
These pests have long , piercing mouthparts which they use to pierce plant and drain the fluids .
As a result , industrial plant leave bend yellow and start out fall off as the plant ’s sap – literally its pedigree – is drain off .
Even worse , mealybug excrement is a form of gooey , saplike honeydew melon that becomes a gross fosterage flat coat for sooty modeling .
The mould can stunt increment and interfere with photosynthesis , which can destroy even well - established plants when paired with the mealybug ’s feeding . Other hemipteran may also be attracted .
touch : Ponytail Palm Overwatering mansion ?
How To Control Ponytail Palm Mealybugs?
Knowing how to get rid of mealybug and take a bit of patience are all you need to baffle mealybugs on Ponytail palms .
There are three unlike coming , all of which are secure for ponytail palms :
As a ecumenical rule , you should carefully polish off any visibly infected leaves and fork septic plants from the rest of your houseplant to minimize crossbreed - contaminant .
Avoid overwatering , as this will harm your works , and mealybug can live underwater .
Chemical Treatments
focalize on pesticide that contain pyrethrin and are mark specifically to handle mealybug on the label . Pyrethrin is a non - toxic plant extractthat works well against a variety of pests when integrate with other ingredient .
Organic Neem oil pesticide for plantsis a dandy remedy for flora pest ascendance . you may buy it directly at any garden center .
Neem Oil is our FAVORITE natural organic insect powder . Control aphids , mealybugs , plant scale , Japanese Beetles and more . It can also be used as a soil drench .
Home Remedies
One of the good oecumenical mealybug pest control tricks is to flat swob them with acotton swob containing 70 % pct isopropyl alcohol .
you’re able to also mildly itch down the foliage regularly to kill both bugs and fungus kingdom that might not be visible on the plant .
You may also care to make your own neem oil color atomizer or insecticidal soap . tally out6 means for controlling mealybugs at home .
An alcohol spray of 10 % percentage rubbing alcohol and 90 % percentage body of water or a 50/50 mixture of urine and isopropyl with a teaspoonful of Dawn dish soap are both effective choice to turn over wash .
Be sure to test any soap or rub alcohol treatments on a modest area to see there are no sensitivity issues .
Also , when applying any intervention , void enforce to the plant in the heating system of the day when plant are in full sun . assure the leave dry quickly .
Natural Predators
A lot of insect are natural enemy of mealybugs and wo n’t harm your ponytail medallion . These admit :
As these also feed on other common works pestilence , they ’re a large instinctive alternative .
