snowy , sticky stuff on your plant mean you have a pest trouble . Here ’s how to get rid of mealybugs for good .
You ’re bound to see a fewbugs on your houseplantsoccasionally . One of the most usual pestis you ’re probable to run into is themealybug . These insects resemble tiny bits of waxy or muzzy , white cotton plant stick to prow and leaves . Mealybugs almost see cunning ( as far as insect go ) , but they ’re a treble threat when it occur to your houseplant . First , the pest suck succus from plant , whichweakens and wrong outgrowth . Mealybugs also leave an pestiferous , sticky residual of undigested sugar , known as honeydew . That sticky mess can permit a fungus called sooty mould to grow , reducing a plant ’s access to sunlight . Here ’s how to get disembarrass of mealybug on your houseplants and prevent them from coming back .
What Are Mealybugs?
Mealybugs are tiny , ellipse - mold insectsrelated to scale(another plant life pestilence ) , but they have diffused body instead of the hard shells that scale insects have . Look for them in hard - to - reach spaces , such as the points where leaves foregather theme and the bottom of leaves . Some mealybugs also hide in dirt and on radical , making them more intriguing to spot . These insects are most attracted tocitrus treesandtropical plant , such asfiddle - leaf figsandhibiscus , but they ’re not picky . Mealybugs can also spread to other nearby plants .
How to Get Rid of Mealybugs
When you need to get free of mealybugs on your houseplant , patience and persistence are necessary . First , sequester the infested plant or plants so the bugs do n’t get a hazard to spread further . Then , take a closer look to shape the severity of the trouble , as this will help you decide how to deal the plague .
Dab Them With Rubbing Alcohol
If the infested plant is small or there are n’t many mealybugs , dab the insects with a cotton plant swabsoaked in rubbing alcoholic beverage . This will toss off and wipe off the bugs , as well as clean away the honeydew melon .
intoxicant dry out quickly without hurting your flora , but it ’s a sound estimate to test a leaf and wait a mean solar day to see how each plant responds .
Spray Them With Jets of Water
you could also remove mealybugs from your houseplants with a strong fountain of water . Take your potted plants outside ( as long as the temperature is above 50 ° degree Fahrenheit ) and use a hose to spray them . Do n’t block to collide with the bottom of the leaves . In addition to shell off bugs , you ’ll also rinse off away any sticky balance andclean off dust and grease . However , this method is n’t a good choice for fragile plants or those that do n’t like a muckle of water .
Try Insecticide
For the most stubborn mealybug infestations , using insecticidal max orneem oilshould do the trick . Spray thoroughly over all the white patches on the plant , making sure to get into the prow crevices and under the leaves . As with any pesticide , scan and be the direction on the label to expend these products effectively and safely . Repeat the treatment of option every few solar day until no signs of pest are seeable .
Toss Your Infected Plants
Sometimes , mealybugs infest a works ’s roots , and it ’s most out of the question to eliminate the plague . In this case , the easy affair to do is to discard the plant to forbid pests from circularise to your other flora .
Tips for Preventing Mealybug Infestations
Frequently Asked Questions
Mealybugs are n’t harmful to pets , but the products used to eliminate them can be , so keep pets away from plant treated with insecticide to get free of mealy bug . too , mealybug are n’t harmful to humans , although some people may experience skin irritation if they come in into contact with them .
Mealybugs can grade in size . They can be anywhere from 1/20 of an inch to 1/5 of an inch long .
mealybug can infest out-of-door and indoor plants by hitchhiking on other plants brought into the landscape painting or the home . They ca n’t fly , and they do n’t jump , so if you check new plants and remove mealy bug quickly , you could keep them from infest other plants around nearby .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Lady beetles , crab spider , and lacewings can avail reduce mealybug population . They eat mealybugs and their eggs .
Probably not . Light infestations of mealy bug do n’t damage healthy plants , so keep your plants goodish is the best approaching . However , mealbybugs suck a works ’s sap , so a heavy plague can weaken the plant , leaving it vulnerable to other pests and diseases .
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