What Are the Treatments for Mealy Bugs in Plants?
Mealybugs are sap-sucking insects that often infest plants and trees. These insects have soft bodies and a white, waxy coating on their backs. Mealybugs excrete a substance known as honeydew, which increases the risk of the plant developing sooty mold. Light infestations of mealybugs may respond well to non-chemical treatments. Heavy infestations may require the use of insecticides. Does this Spark an idea?
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Biological Control
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Mealybugs are often controlled with natural predatory insects. Several types of insects such as parasitic wasps, green lacewigs and ladybird beetles feed on mealybugs keeping them low in number. These insects are available through mail order suppliers, but can be an expensive means of mealybug control. When using predatory insects for mealybug control, avoid applying insecticides to your plants because this will kill the predatory insects.
Alcohol
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Applying alcohol directly to mealybugs can eliminate them. Soak a cotton ball or swab in alcohol and dab directly onto the mealybug. Spraying your plants with a diluted alcohol solution of 25 to 50 percent concentration can kill mealybugs, as well. Repeat the application of alcohol once each month to keep mealybugs under control. Be sure to test a small area on your plant before applying alcohol, as some plants may show signs of injury from alcohol applications.
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Syringing
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Washing your plants down with a hard stream of water is known as syringing. This process knocks the bugs from the leaves and branches.Spraying your plants for five minutes twice a week can keep mealybugs and other insects such as spider mites under control.
Soaps and Oils
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Using insecticidal soaps on houseplants is often an effective mealybug control method. Diluting insecticidal soaps at a concentration of 1 to 3 percent, can kill insects such as mealybugs, aphids and spider mites. Some liquid dish detergents can also kill mealybugs and other insects, but may cause injury to the plant in the process. Horticultural oils are highly refined oils made from petroleum that are often effective in controlling insects on plants. These oils work by disrupting the metabolism of the insects or smothering them.
Insecticides
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Insecticides containing pyrethins are fast-acting products available at most garden centers. These insecticides have a low level of toxicity and can control mealybugs and other insects on plants and trees. Soil drenches, stakes and granules are systemic insecticides that are absorbed by plants roots. Applying these products to the soil of infested plants is often an effective means of insect control.
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