How to Kill Mealybug Insects
Mealybugs are a type of insect pest sometimes encountered on houseplants. The bugs bite into the plant and suck out its juices, stressing the plant and killing it if the pests are not managed immediately. Commonly encountered species include the citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri) and the obscure mealybug (Pseudococcus obscurus). Kill mealybugs on your plants before your plants succumb to the pest. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Separate an infested plant from other nearby plants before treating it to kill the bugs. This prevents the mealybugs from spreading to virgin foliage.
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Remove the mealybugs manually using your fingers or knocking them off the plant using a soft-bristled brush. Place the bugs into a bucket filled with soapy water to kill the insects.
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Dab the mealybugs with a cotton swab dipped in standard rubbing alcohol to quickly kill them without using toxic insecticides.
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Spray the plant with a standard garden insecticide if you are experiencing a heavy mealybug infestation. Insecticides may be chemical-based or formulated with natural horticultural oils such as neem oil. Apply to the plant according to the product's guidelines as solution toxicity varies widely. Focus on the plant stems and underside of leaves where mealybugs tend to congregate.
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Use natural mealybug predators to control the mealybugs without using chemicals or spray. Example predators include ladybugs and cryptolaemus, available for purchase from some nurseries. Alternatively, set the plant outside to expose the mealybugs to predatory insects.
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Change the plant's soil if it is in a pot. Insecticide sprays and predators target adult mealybugs but do not affect the pests' larvae, which live in the soil. Uproot the potted plant, and knock off as much of the soil as possible before re-potting in new soil.
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Tips & Warnings
Mealybugs are typically found on houseplants where they do not have natural predators as they do outdoors.
