How to Control Mealybugs on Indoor Plants

Mealybugs are cottony-looking insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts. They suck the fluids from leaves and stems, robbing plants of essential nutrients. Leaves wither and yellow and may drop from the plant. Indoors, mealybugs thrive in the warm, dry environment and may produce several new generations each year.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spray Bottles
• Cryptolaemus Montrouzieri
• Horticultural Oils
• Cotton Swabs
• Insecticidal Soaps
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Cotton Swabs
• Rubbing Alcohol

1. Identify mealybugs by looking on the undersides of leaves and around leaf joints. These insects look like small (1/10 to 1/8 of an inch) balls of cotton. Mealybug-damaged plants look withered and sickly and may have sticky sap on the leaves and stems.

2. Move an infested plant to isolate it from the rest of your houseplant collection. Mealybugs are invasive and will infest other plants.

3. Spray a strong jet of water directly on the affected area of the plant. The stream washes the insects off. This is the easiest way to control mealybugs.

4. Spray with a soap/oil mixture if the water alone doesn't do the job. Mix 1/2 tsp. insecticidal soap, 1/4 tsp. horticultural oil, and 1 quart water in a spray bottle. There are also numerous chemical products available for the control of mealybugs.

5. Or, use rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab to treat mealybugs. Dab the rubbing alcohol directly onto the insects.

6. Try purchasing and releasing a natural predator called mealybug destroyer (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri) for serious infestations. Place the mealybug destroyers directly on the infested plant. Once they have consumed the mealybugs, the destroyers will simply die from lack of food in the indoor environment.

Tips & Warnings

• Always try the least toxic method of pest control as your first step.
• Water the plant well before releasing mealybug destroyers. These predatory insects will appreciate a drink.
• Isolate newly purchased plants for two weeks before introducing them into your plant collection. This will give you time to inspect for insect pests before they develop into problems.
• If you use pesticides to control insect pests, you will kill natural predators of mealybugs.
• If you choose a chemical control, always wear protective clothing and safety gear including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, neoprene gloves, goggles and a respirator.

[ellymae]

on 7/6/2008 dO NOT USE INSECTICIDE! bees are dying and schedualled for extinction in the next 30 years. Honey bees politae 3/4 of the food on the planet WAKE UP GARDENER! Insecticidal soap is a no no.

on 11/22/2005 If you really wish to save your plant invest time in going through each leaf/stem fold and treat with a Q-tip dabbed in alcohol. The mealybugs may be immune to water/alcohol sprays because they hide in the folds!