Mealy Bugs - Houseplants Pests and how to Control them

Mealy Bugs

These are white, soft-bodied, cottony-looking, sap-sucking insects. Large clusters occur on stems and under the leaves of many houseplants. A serious attack can lead to wilting, yellowing and leaf fall. They also excrete large amounts of honeydew which attracts ants and is a fertile ground for black sooty mold.

Control:

• Remove heavily infested parts of the plant and destroy to prevent further spread. Take the houseplant outside or to a sink and wash them off with a high pressure stream of water. If the houseplant has delicate foliage, turn the plant upside down and dip the foliage in a bucket of water to wash the pests off. Repeat as necessary.
• A light infestation can be dealt with by by wiping them off with cotton buds dabbed in a solution of 4 parts water to 1 part rubbing alcohol followed by thorough spraying of the plant with the solution. Repeat as necessary.
• A severe infestation is dealt with by weekly application of a systemic insecticide as per the manufacturer's recommendations.

Was this insightful? Feel free to share on social media.