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Mealy Bugs

HELP! My confederate jasmine has stuff growing on it that looks like white puff paint. It is mostly on the joints, but a little on the leaves. I can not see any bugs, but the white stuff, when I move it with a pencil tip, is stringy, kind of like spiders web strings.

The white cottony ’stuff’ in the leaf axils is home to eggs laid by mealy bugs, which eventually hatch and become microscopic orange crawlers that feed on your plant. Once they reach adult stage, they develop a white waxy coating that is impervious to water and secrete sticky honeydew which attract ants. Mealy bugs reproduce in hot dry conditions, causing yellowing leaves, premature leaf drop and weak, slow growth. 

 

To treat this problem Dip a Q-tip or small paintbrush in alcohol and dab each white mass. This will not completely elliminate the insects because they do not all develop at the same time. They are most vulnerable in the crawler stage. A repeated spray of 50% isopropyl alcohol and 50% water is a more effective way to treat mealy bugs. A pump sprayer with pressure works best in penetating the waxy coat and getting into the crevices of the plant. In addition, an ultrafine oil or Neem oil will work on the crawlers. Both alcohol and oil treatment will control mealy bugs safely indoors. Be sure to apply once a week for a month even if you do not see any sign of the insect.

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12 comments to Mealy Bugs

  • Randi

    Mealy bug on Star Jasmine
    Hi, I have a star jasmine living in an apartment in MT. It has started to bloom, but unlike before, its blooms are kinda brown and fall off really quickly. It also has awful little white bug things that look like trilobites. I have a terribly toxic chemical pesticide, but would really like to avoid using that, especially because the plant has to stay indoors and we have pets. Any ideas getting rid of the awful pests would be very much appreciated.

    Are these white bugs in the axils (joints) of leaves in a cottony white mass? Is there sticky stuff on the leaves? If so, you may have mealy bugs, see the above post on Mealy Bug. It will tell you a safe way to treat the problem indoors.

  • Pam

    Can anyone help with more info on Mealy Bugs, I am looking for a stronger solution than alcohol and water, my office plants are all infested and these things are disgusting!!!!

    Mealy bugs are a difficult pest to get rid of because the white cottony fluff is a protective waterproof material contains the female with her egg case. The adult bug is covered with a waxy coating that is also impervious to water. The insect is vulnerable when the crawlers hatch and come out, but they don’t all come out all at once. They move quickly and are difficult to spot. Try Neem Oil, or insecticidal soap for the crawler stage once a week for 3-4 weeks. Use of both alcohol and oil is a safe control for indoor use. Persistance is the key to eliminate mealy bugs in all stages of their life cycle. You can also try a systemic insecticide. Be sure it is safe to use indoors on your plants and take proper precautions when using systemics.. Heavily infested plants should be discarded.

  • Jean M.

    I did not cut my mandevilla back when I brought in for winter. Now it is getting new growth I but have white cottony residue that is sticky. Help! Do I cut back Now?
    Also have used insecticidal soap & washed leaves with alcohol

    You may have mealybugs-white cottony “stuff” in leaf axils that also secrete honeydew (the sticky stuff). You can cut your mandevilla back as it will help control the insect. Continue your treatment of alcohol dip and insecticidal soap for at least 3 weeks even if you don’t see the insect. More mandevilla info

  • Tim

    We also have something similar to these bugs , and would like to know what they are? Our bugs just started to appear ,literally like little white strings falling from the sky! At first I thought they were ashes from a fire, but when I looked closer they were little white fluffy strings with larvae in the middle of them! There are thousands of them and was wondering what they are and how harmful they are?

    From the description, you may have mealy bugs a difficult insect to control. See above for control suggestions.

  • SHAWMILLING LTD

    I HAVE AN OLEANDER TREE THAT HAS MEALY BUGS ON IT. I SPRAYED WITH AN INSECTICIDE WITH PYRETHRINS .50% AND PIPERNOYL BUTOXIDE 5%. IT IS DYING. HOW CAN I BRING IT BACK TO LIFE.

  • Avril Shorkend

    Hi, I think I also have a case of white mealy bug with the white fluffy clusters in the plant joints. I have’nt seen any hatched bugs but I am struggling to get rid of them, my entire garden is infected and now my neighbour we think. The leaves weaken or turn brown and fall off leaving the stems of the plants/trees. Is it any use to spray while in the white protected cluster stage and do they persist throughout colder winter weather ? Other than cutting my plants back I think I’m doomed.

    You may need to use a stronger pesticide (systemic) that is effective and can be used in your area. A strong pressurized sprayer can dislodge some of the cotton masses. Mealy bugs can winterover in colder temperatures. Here’s a recipe for tobacco tea I found on line . I have not tired it and don’t know if it works:
    Take 3 fingers of chewing tobacco-place in a nylon stocking and steep in 1 cup of water for 20 minutes. Add 1 cup of mouthwash (antiseptic) to the tea and 1 cup of Murphy’s oil soap. Add 2 tbspns of this solution to 1 gallon of water and spray the plants. (Don’t use on edible plants). It is a strong insecticide so use caution when applying. You may have to spray several times at 7-10 day intervals. Let us know if it worked.

  • ricknhouston

    Hi,

    I’ve begun noticing itsy, bitsy, teeny weeny black bugs crawling around on my Mandevilla leaves … leaving behind eaten away places. No white, sticky, cottony material as mentioned for “mealybugs”, though! Any thoughts?
    RnH

    Hi Rick
    Is there any clear sticky material on the leaves?

  • Wenhow52

    Hi – I have 2 pineapples and it looks like something is eating them. One has already turned yellow, but it’s not full grown. Any ideas?

    Could it be racoons, or some kind of small animal? If the pineapple is yellow, then it probably ready to eat.

  • I have the same black bugs on my Mandavilla….no sticky stuff are anything wrong with the leaves…but they are infested with this black teeny black bug…I can wipe them off real easy but would like to get rid of them…Please Help…Thank you

    Are they soft oval shaped bugs? like aphids?

  • cathy doherty

    Mealy bug on hydrangea
    Help! I have clusters of large, white, flat oat shaped things stuck to the underside of my Hydrangea leaves. this year the large bush looks weak and anemic, and some of the leaves are turning yellow. Also, this stuff is on the joints of the plant. It is not small little cotton ball like things, it is this weird, lage oat shape stuff. What is it, and what can I do about it? Thank you.

    Hi Cathy
    It sounds like mealy bugs see above article for treatment. A systemic insecticide may also work on mealy bug but check the label to see if it is approved for hydrangeas.

  • cathy doherty

    Thank you so much, and I will report back on the results. I really appreciate it.
    Cathy

  • anastasia03

    Mealy bug
    i have a big balcony full of different types of plants and what started as one plant (gardenia) being infested with mealybgs has now gone to many other plants. ive tried alcohal and water and dish soap and water and nothing seems to work. now, to make matters worse, i have an ant infestation. can someone please tell me how to go about treating all of the plants that have been infected? i cant quarentine any of the plants cause they are all big in size and i have nowhere to put them. thanks.

    Hi Anastasia
    If your plants are outdoors, then spray all of them with a systemic insecticide and it should take care of mealy bugs and ants. A systemic insecticide is one that renders the whole plant poisonous so that when the insect feeds on the plant, it will die. Be sure it is safe to use on your plants and take proper precautions when using systemics.. Mealy bugs are difficult to eradicate, heavily infested plants should be discarded.

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