How to Control Mealybugs on Pyracantha Shrubs
The flashy evergreen shrub known as pyracantha makes a statement as it grows 15 feet tall and 10 feet across, displaying clusters of berries from red to orange. Like all plants, even pyracantha can be infested with mealybugs, which suck the juices from leaves, turning leaves yellow, stunting growth and potentially deforming your plant. As the mealybugs move, they leave behind a honeydew substance which can attract sooty mold. To control mealybugs on pyracantha shrubs you’ll want to work as fast as possible before the plant is permanently harmed. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Cotton swabs
- Rubbing alcohol
- Spray bottle
- Insecticidal soap
- Hand pruners
Instructions
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1
Inspect your pyracantha for small, white insects where leaves extend out from the stems and along the veins of the leaves. If only a handful of mealybugs appear, your infestation is considered light. Heavy infestations may cover the leaves with little space between bugs.
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Dip a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol and dab the alcohol directly onto the mealybugs to kill them if the infestation is small. Repeat weekly on new mealybugs which appear. Once the bugs seem to be gone, continue weekly inspections to ensure that they don’t return.
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3
Spray insecticidal soap over the mealybugs if the infestation is light to mild. Thoroughly coat the soft-bodied insects with spray. These soaps can be found at most garden centers and can generally be reapplied every week until the bugs are no longer seen.
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Mix together and spray an alcohol solution of 1 part rubbing alcohol to 9 parts water if the infestation is heavy to prevent the mealybugs from spreading to healthy areas of the pyracantha. Keep in mind that this spray can harm beneficial insects on the plant as well.
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Spray your shrub with plain water three to four hours after applying alcohol or soaps to the plant to limit potential leaf damage. Because the soaps and alcohol are meant to kill the mealybugs on contact, leaving the material on the leaves dried won’t prevent future infestations.
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Clip off areas of the shrub which are heavily infested and showing signs of damage, using hand pruners. Make the clip back to a point on the branch where it appears healthy and forks away from another healthy arm of the plant. Discard these pieces.
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Tips & Warnings
Test any soap or alcohol treatments on a small spot of the plant one to two days before you plan a large treatment to make sure your pyracantha isn’t sensitive to it; otherwise the plant may be harmed trying to remove the pests.
