How to Spot Mealybugs

Mealybugs are fluid-sucking pests that attach themselves to plants and deprive them of nutrients. Eventually, infected plants wither, turn yellow and die. Mealybugs have a lifespan of about 3 months and reproduce rapidly, so it's important to spot them early to control them.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Pay special attention to houseplants to spot mealybugs. One of mealybugs' favorite targets is houseplants, especially flowering houseplants. Mealybugs can affect flowering and fruit-bearing plants of all types, so keep an eye out for mealybugs in the garden, too.

2. Know what a mealybug looks like. Mealybugs are extremely tiny, but can be seen with the naked eye. Look for flat, oval bugs that are 1 to 4 mm long. They are covered with a white powdery substance.

3. Use a magnifying glass to spot mealybugs. While mealybugs can be seen by the naked eye, they are easy to miss. Check your houseplants with a magnifying glass on a regular basis for mealybugs.

4. Look under the leaves and on the stems, the most common locations for mealybugs.

5. Watch for mealybug eggs. It's desirable to spot mealybugs before they lay eggs, but the eggs are easier to spot. Watch for white puffy sacks under the leaves and on the stems of plants. The sac is usually sticky to the touch.

6. Take a picture of houseplants you suspect have mealybugs. If houseplants display signs of mealybugs, such as withered and yellow leaves, take a digital picture of the plant and download it to your computer. Zoom in and look for little white dots. The mealybugs may be easier to spot this way than by simply looking at the plant with the naked eye.

7. Spot mealybugs at the store before you buy a plant. The most common way people acquire mealybugs is bringing them home on a plant from the store. Check all houseplants you intend to buy for mealybugs.