Mealybugs are difficult to get rid of because immatures typically wedge themselves in stem crotches, leaf folds, or other tight locations where washing or pesticides cannot reach them. Small white cottony masses around the drainage holes of pots also indicate the presence of mealybugs but in many cases infestations can be confirmed only by removing the root-ball from the pot to observe mealybugs on the roots. Yellowed or wilting foliage may indicate the presence of mealybugs on the roots. Underground infestations are more difficult to detect. The longtailed mealybug frequently conceals itself in leaf whorls. On some plants mealybugs concentrate on the growing tips, and on other plants they are more dispersed. Both the insects themselves and the eggs in their masses of waxy threads may look like white cotton on the plant. The best method for detecting infestations of mealybugs on leaves and stems is visual inspection – just looking at the plants. Females have three instars and are mobile throughout their lives.Ĭitrus mealybug egg mass with newly hatched nymphs. Male nymphs settle and spin an elongated, white waxy cocoon. The immatures search for feeding sites on which to settle. After depositing the egg mass or live young over a period of 5–10 days, the female mealybug dies. The longtailed mealybug does not lay eggs but produces live young, similar to aphids. A few mealybug species will move to roots when growing conditions are less favorable, but return to stems and leaves when plants are actively growing.Ī female mealybug and her cottony egg mass.įemale citrus mealybugs lay up to 600 small (1/100 inch or 0.3 mm long), yellow eggs within a protective mass of white, cottony threads. Feeding on the root hairs results in yellowed leaves, wilting, stunting and bloom reduction. The ground mealybug ( Rhizoecus falcifer) is the most common soil mealybug, occurring on the roots of many house plants, especially African violets. Mealybugs also excrete honeydew, which allows for the growth of sooty mold. Citrus mealybugs inject a toxin while feeding that causes plant malformation. Their feeding weakens and stunts plants, and causes foliar yellowing, defoliation, wilting and general plant decline. These species remove plants sap from aboveground plant parts, especially stem tips, leaf junctures and new growth.Ĭitrus mealybug, the most common species of mealybug found on houseplants. longispinus) or cactus mealybug (Hypogeococcus festerianus) occasionally occur on specific host plants. Other mealybug species such as longtailed mealybug (P. It also shows up consistently on rosemary, citrus, and bird of paradise. It feeds on a wide variety of plants, and especially likes soft-stemmed and succulent plants such as coleus, fuchsia, croton, jade, poinsettia and cactus. The citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri) is the most common species found on plant foliage. Females are rounded, wingless, and about 1/16″ long. Unlike their relatives the scales, most species retain their legs throughout their life and can move around. The white “fluff” helps protect them from excessive heat and moisture loss. They are pink, soft-bodied insects covered with a white, waxy, cottony material. Mealybugs are common pests of houseplants.
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