How to Kill Mealy Bugs on Indoor Plants

Mealy bugs can infect any indoor plant.

Mealy bugs are small, white bugs with a woolly exterior. They live in colonies and feed off the juices of houseplants. They also secrete a sticky, sugary substance that attracts ants and sooty mold. If you notice mealy bugs on your indoor plants, it is important to treat them immediately to avoid further injury to your plants.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton swab
• Rubbing alcohol

Instructions

1. Locate the mealy bugs. They tend to nest where the leaves attach to the stem, underneath the leaves and along the stem itself.

2. Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol.

3. Dab the cotton swab against the bugs. This wipes them off the plant, and after that they can be disposed of.

4. Repeat the rubbing alcohol treatment once a day over the next several days to halt the infection.

Tips & Warnings

• You may also put on rubber gloves and remove the mealy bugs by hand. Make sure to crush them, or you risk transporting them to a different place in your indoor garden.

• Do not cover large areas of the plant with rubbing alcohol, as it can damage the plant.

References

• Evergrowing: Houseplant Bugs and Pests
• Guide to Houseplants: Mealy Bugs