Pacific West Botanicals From Planting Instructions: under Pests and Diseases Mealy Bugs Mealy bugs have an oval shaped body with overlapping soft plates and a white cottony covering, closely related to scale insects . Unlike scale insects, mealy bugs can move around at a very slow crawl. They suck juices from plants and can kill the plant. Often black sooty mold grows on the honeydew excreted by mealy bug colonies. Prime houseplant pests every where. Can daub mealy bugs with rubbing alcohol. or hose with jets of water and insecticidal soap. Every 2-4 weeks for adult mealy bugs, eggs, young pupae and black mold. Black mold deters beneficial insects. Ants have symbiotic relationship with mealy bugs like aphids. Can use ladybird beetles to control mealy bugs. Also Cryptolaemus larvae beetles ( look like mealy bugs ) and lacewings. Or spray with horticultural oil. |