11/07/2022
Let’s talk about Mealybugs........
Here’s what I have learned about mealybugs throughout my years of gardening and growing perennials, tropicals, and succulents for retail and personal fulfillment.
What are Mealybugs?
Mealybugs are soft, oval, wax-covered insects that feed on a wide variety of plants. These piercing-sucking insects feed on plants and produce abundant honeydew that can lead to mold-causing fungi called black sooty mold. Although their appearance can vary by species, most look like little white oval creatures with a lot of tiny legs.
Although they might look cute and fuzzy when they first appear, mealybugs will spread rapidly if action is not taken immediately. Their lifecycles vary somewhat by species but most adult females lay 100-200+ eggs over a 10-20 day period. Many species reproduce asexually so the infestation can grow quickly! The egg sacks look like pieces of a cotton ball stuck to the plant
There are many species of mealybugs that hide out in the hidden parts of your plants such as leaf bottoms, in-between fruits, and deep inside thick leaves, stems, and bark. Some species will also be found under the soil feeding on your roots.
Mealybugs are sometimes confused with other pests that produce waxy coatings, honeydew, and black sooty mold, including the cottony cushion scale, woolly aphids, and even some soft scales and whiteflies.
Where did they come from?
Mealybugs thrive in humid warm environments. They are generally introduced to homes by sneaking in on new houseplants or carried in by little ants who have found access to your indoor plants. Ants can be the first sign of mealybugs. They love the honeydew secreted by mealys and will carry colonies as far as needed so they have as much as they want. If you are seeing ants, be sure to begin frequent inspections of any plants in the vicinity.
What harm do they cause?
Mealybugs attach themselves to the plant, secreting a powdery wax layer used for protection while they suck the sap from your plant. They secrete the honeydew when their tummies are full and leave a thick sticky goo on your plants surface. This goo is the perfect habitat for black sooty mold which disturbs photosynthesis. A small population can go unnoticed without much harm but as the colonies begin to expand, mealys will weaken your plant to the point of killing it if left untreated.
How can I prevent Mealybugs?
Try to keep your plants environment as clean and dry as possible. Since almost all plants enjoy humidity while inside our homes, this can be harder than it sounds. Grooming is highly recommended to help keep plants healthy. Mealybugs and other pests like to hide under decaying leaves and other plant debris so this step is very important. Removing dead and decaying leaves regularly helps prevent insects from settling in.
Thorough inspections are recommended especially for new plants introduced to existing collections. I make it a habit to re-pot every new plant in its appropriate medium so I can inspect the roots and existing containers when adding them to my collection. If you notice any odd-looking egg sacks, powdery white substances, or creepy crawlies while inspecting your plants, be sure to isolate the plant until all pests are eradicated. Also, be sure to keep those ants outside using bait traps or barrier sprays.
What are the signs of mealybug infestation?
Generally, mealybug infestations will cause deformities to your plant. These deformities can include odd-shaped leaves and stems that bear irregular shapes and sizes when compared to healthy areas of the plant. Leaves turning yellow or dying can also be an indication of an infestation. Most mealybugs look like little puffs of white cotton with legs extending out of their oval bodies. Some mealies are pink whereas others are yellow. They usually hide in crevices of your plant so be sure to look deep if you see deformities.
How do I get rid of them organically?
Upon spotting your first mealy bug, immediately isolate the plant(s) that is infected. It is best to shake off the existing soil and scrub the container it was in before repotting in fresh soil.
When I am hosting my workshops, the first thing I recommend is smooshing the mealybugs with your finger. Yep, that’s right, sounds gross, huh? Since mealybugs are unarmored, simply rubbing the insect and/or egg sacks away with your finger will kill the insects.
Another recommended method is with Isopropyl Alcohol. Any strength will work but I prefer 70%. Mix a capful of alcohol with 1/2 cup of water. Using a Q-Tip, soak the solution with the tip and then apply it to the mealybug. Alcohol only works if the insect is directly affected by the alcohol. You should notice that the color of the mealy changes to a yellowish-orangy tan color when alcohol is applied. If you are battling too many to dab, mix ¼ cup of alcohol with water in a 32oz spray bottle and spray directly on the mealybug. As alcohol is highly evaporative, this method will not leave harmful residues on your plant. WARNING: If the alcohol content is too high or the plant species is too tender, the mixture on leaves can cause leaf spots on some foliage. Plants that I have seen leaf damage occur on include philodendrons, palms, plumeria, euphorbia, ctenthe, and other wide-leaf tropical houseplants. Repeat as needed
If you are battling ants and mealy bugs, my recommendation would be to dust the entire plant outdoors with D.E. (diatomaceous earth). Repurpose a coffee can by drilling ⅛” holes in the lid so you can toss the D.E. up under the leaves while dusting. Dust masks are recommended when using this product. I like to dust under the pots to keep ants from settling in as well. If used correctly, D.E. can do wonders for pest control.
Another recommendation is Insecticidal soaps (Potassium Salts of Fatty Acids). I found these to be pretty effective on small infestations with repetitive use but lacking my desirable outcome in high infestations… that is, until I added an essential oil blend that I now offer for sale to all my plant-loving friends called MEALYXterminator.
My one-and-done solution is MEALYXterminator, an EO Blend that I created over the last few years while raising succulents and tropical plants for retail inside my greenhouse. When combined with Insecticidal Soap (which acts as a binding agent for the blend and has insecticidal properties on its own), this EO Blend becomes a potent insecticide on soft-bodied insects like mealybugs, aphids, and thrips. MEALYXterminator has a fast knockdown and works as a contact spray, soil dredge, and dip for a wide variety of plants. This EO blend has residual effects on many plants, unlike the Insecticidal Soap on its own, when using water-based Potassium Salts of Fatty Acids. It is formulated to kill insects but it also disrupts the nymph stage of other insects like aphids, whiteflies, and grasshoppers; kills unhatched eggs; has anti-fungal properties to help fight off that black sooty mold caused by mealies.
MEALYXterminator can also be used as a soil dredge after direct spraying. Wait 10-15 minutes after spraying then rinse plant(s) with water while flushing the rinse through the soil. This creates an insecticidal dredge that can kill gnats and other hidden insects (including eggs). MEALYXterminator can also be used as a dip after being mixed with insecticidal soap and water. Just add an eighth to a quarter cup of the mixture to a gallon of water in a large bowl and use it to dip your plants. To use the dip, simply remove plant from soil, while securing the rootball with your hand, hold the plant upside down into the dip and gently stir the mix with the plant. Throw cuttings of the plant into the bowl and allow the cuttings to sit for 15-30 minutes before rinsing. MEALYXterminator has become my best friend inside that greenhouse. I just created a page dedicated to my EO blend named ‘MEALYXterminator’ at the request of several customers needing to re-stock for the winter. You can find the page by doing a quick facebook search.
Other Insecticides, Non-Organic:
There are several chemicals out there that are supposed to eliminate Mealybugs and other plant-sucking insects. However, I cannot recommend any of them over these organic solutions. as I have not found them to be any better. That was what put me on my quest to make an organic product that worked.
