Pseudococcidae
One minute you ’ve experience a felicitous , respectable succulent and the next you notice a clump of white fluff or some small , odd see insects deposit in a crevice of your cherished works . They seem to appear from out of nowhere .
When a sudden infestation of mealybug happen on my mummy ’s houseplants , though , everyone know where to put the inculpation : on the cuttings I ’d brought home from my university ’s tropic greenhouse .
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Ovisacs.
irksome to spread on their own , once you introduce them into your space on new plants , tools , or supply , these pests can be notoriously hard to do .
Luckily , there are options available to serve you fall their issue and minimize the success of their invasion , and we ’ve got it all laid out for you below !
Here ’s what we ’ll peach about :
Ovisacs.
What You’ll Learn
What Are Mealybugs ?
recognition
Biology and Life Cycle
Monitoring
Organic Control Methods
Biological Control
Cultural Control
Physical Control
Organic Pesticides
Chemical Pesticide Control
Mealybugs are insects of the Pseudococcidae family , and there are about 275 specie that inhabit the United States . They share their superfamily , Coccoidea , with piano scale .
Many of the rough-cut species are in thePseudococcusandPlanococcusgenera , includingPlanococcus citri , the citrous fruit or nursery mealybug , andPseudococcus longispinus , the long - tailed mealy bug .
family Pseudococcidae mintage love to congregate in protect areas between industrial plant part , such as crevices , narrow spaces between advert fruit and leaves , on stems near the soil , and in the case of root alimentation species , nestled between the root and the dirt .
These worm will feed on most cosmetic species , admit woody and herbaceous perennials , flowers , trees ( especially citrus trees),grapes , orchids , succulents and cacti , and even some supergrass .
They are common in glasshouse and indoor place , as they love strong , dampish climates .
These worm blow plant juices straight from the phloem with their piercing - sucking mouthpart , which are basically like sharp straws .
The bast is the part of the vascular system that enrapture the sugary production of photosynthesis ( photosynthates ) around the plant .
Therefore , you could often find them clustered on leaf vein and midribs , happily slurping up the plant ’s hard - earned solid food .
Like aphids , they secrete a viscid , sweet liquidity known as honeydew from their abdomen . dim sooty mold arise on these excreting , which makes a plant front quite surly . Learnhow to deal with pitchy modeling here .
pismire have it away the honeydew melon treats so much they ’ll protect the mealybugs from raw opposition , and even persuade them to fresh plants .
Not only are plant life overrun with mealybugs , covered in sooty mold , and crawling with ants quite unsightly , but they will also have reduced vigor .
If flowers are assault , there may be poor fruit set . And fruits cover in feeding , fuzzy insects and black mold are not only unappetizing , but the fruits may drop or shrivel on the tree as well .
While feeding , Pseudococcidae gadfly can serve as a transmitter for virus that can induce yellowing and necrosis ( death ) .
Grapevine leafroll computer virus , for example , is vectored by both the long tailed and citrus mealybug . It causes leave to call on red or yellow , loggerheaded , and brittle , and eventually they wave up .
As a class , you could think of mealy bug as small , generally one centimeter long , oval shaped , white-hot to grey , segmented , wax covered , wingless insects .
Often avail with identification between species , some grow filaments that look like long blank legs down the side of their consistency , or that resemble two to three waxy tails on the end of their abdomens , while others do n’t grow fibril at all .
This verbal description covers older houri and grownup females from many species , though there are a variety of colour shades .
manly adult look like gnat , with two wings and four heart .
Nymphs of both sexes are categoric and come in pallid shade of yellow , orange , or pinkish . The early instar do n’t have a waxy covering .
Pink to yellow eggs are laid in white or emollient cottony wax - cover sacs known as ovisacs .
P. citri , the citrus mealybug , is the most far-flung and negative greenhouse species .
These have a gray stripe down the length of their consistence and do n’t turn long filaments . When they feed , they inject toxin which change form the plant .
P. longispinus , the long - dog mealy bug , grows long filaments from the end of its body , and instead of pose testicle like most specie do , give birth to subsist vernal .
Rhizoecusspecies are base feeder . These have sac - shaped bodies , produce unrecorded young , and grow a longsighted filament from the end of their venter .
It ’s easy to confuse them with cottony cushion scale ( Icerya purchasi)orwoolly aphids ( subfamily Erosomatinae ) .
Cottony cushion scale females have a red - dark-brown dead body color and a plumage of whitened fluff extending from their bodies .
Aphids , including addled aphid , tend to be more dynamic , and will sometimes have wing , feed on leafage undersides and on prow , and are not as distressed in worldwide about finding a chap to hide out in .
If you see something on your plant that appear like a fungous or mildew infection , take a closer expression to make trusted it ’s not a Pseudococcidae plague , as the two can look quite similar !
The life sentence wheel varies by coinage , but in general , female will lie up to 600 eggs in ovisacs in protected areas on plant crowns , leaves , bark , or yield .
or else , some species give nativity to live young , as mentioned above .
testis take six to 14 day to brood , emerge as tiny nymph . For most metal money , the female go through four instar , which are the stages between each fourth dimension they molt as the worm prepare . male person have five instar .
During the nymph stage , they are bonk as crawlers and are very fluid . Adults have legs as well but tend to be slow moving . They do n’t typically move far , and prefer to finalize in one place to feast .
early on on in their sprightliness as crawlers , nymph lack that protective waxy covering , and this is the best meter to implement organic and chemic pesticide ascendency method acting .
Once they mature into adults , the waxy coating repels moisture – as well as any chemicals that may be carried along with it .
male are rarely seen , as they are tiny , only live for a few days , and do n’t course . They are n’t always even want , as many metal money have female person that can procreate asexually .
This is sleep with as parthenogenesis , where the embryo develop without fertilization .
count on the species , they can complete two to six generations per class . Those endure the great out-of-doors ordinarily finish two and will overwinter as eggs or early instars under bark .
Indoors , and out of doors in warm clime , you ’ll be able-bodied to find all stages at one time .
As they are small and love to veil in protected places , it ’s easygoing to lose a few mealybugs that are suck in on your plant . That is , until they ’ve completely consume over .
on a regular basis ascertain all crevices as well as foliage and flower whorls , test for ball masses , nymph or adult aggregation , or single crawlers .
Use a script lens to help you see the difference between these hemipterous insect or other worm and fungal infections .
Check any outdoor plants before bringing them at heart for the wintertime .
Favorite host include many of the various soft and gamy plants that we like to spruce up our homes with , such as orchids , and various types of cactus and succulents .
Certain outside ornamentals and fruiting plants are commonly affect as well , such ashibiscus , citrus fruit trees , and grapes .
If you notice scandalmongering or wilted foliation , check the origin for belowground plague by remove the pot and softly knocking soil off from a part of radical if the antecedent are n’t seeable .
These insect are notoriously hard to control .
They shroud in protect areas , grow a waxy finish which harbor them and repels chemicals , spread easy on newfangled plant as well as tools and pot , and can survive without feeding on live stuff for up to two week .
as luck would have it , there are a variety of options for homeowners , including some efficient and hungry rude voluntary .
Using an desegregate pest management ( IPM ) approach is your best selection , as this will optimise and protect the natural opposition of these pest while supply effectual control .
you’re able to find out and how to design a good program for your garden here .
There are many natural enemy in the landscape that like to make a meal out of mealybugs . Outdoors , and when introduced into greenhouses , these beneficials can keep populations at tolerable level .
Parasitic wasps , ladybugs , green and brown lacewings , wanderer , minute pirate bug , and predaceous midge larvae can establish an impressive rape on Pseudococcidae species .
The mealybug uprooter ( Cryptolaemus montrouzieri ) is a glazed , rotund lady beetle with a blood-red - orange straits and thorax , mordant wing covers , and an appetite for Pseudococcidae .
you’re able to purchase these predators at Arbico Organicsand introduce them to your greenhouse !
Leptomastix dactylopiiare small amber colored wasp which parasitize aged instar nymph or adults bylaying their egg in the bodies of these pests . The result larvae eat the host ’s dead body from the inner out , twist it into a severely yellow-bellied mummy .
L. dactylopiiis particularly effective against the citrus mealybug and is commercially available for nursery growers .
P. longispinusis point by none other than the long - bob mealybug parasitoid , Anagyrus fusciventris .
Anagyrus fusciventris
This tiny wasp not only parasitizes pests in the older life stages , but the grownup wasps also puncture and provender on those in the young stagecoach .
you could discover these predatorsavailable at Arbico Organics .
Since the females ca n’t wing and do n’t move chop-chop when they do decide to habituate their short legs , these insects do n’t quickly disperse on their own .
If they spread , it ’s belike the fracture of the plant owner . ( Or in my mom ’s case , a well - meaning girl bearing cut gifts … )
So , it makes sense that the good way to protect your industrial plant babies is to cautiously inspect any new entry before you bring them home plate . suss out your tool and pots too , specially under flange and in rut .
Clean up dust and slay any loose bits of bark , as these make sound overwintering site .
destruct heavily infested plants .
annul unnecessary fertilizer app , as excess nitrogen can cause plants to turn too speedily , lead in weak , soft growth that is more susceptible to prejudicious insect .
Plus , it can cause an increase in mealybug testicle production as well .
If you have the time and good eyes , you could handpick mealybugs off your plant to physically bump off aggregations or individuals , especially if there are n’t many yet .
Alternatively , spray plants with a hard jet of H2O to bump egg sacs , fishworm , and adults .
You may postulate to recur to using blot treatment if there are no raw enemies present in your greenhouse or home .
Use a cotton swob souse in isopropyl alcohol to shoot down collection and egg mess .
spraying can be ineffective , as their protected locations make them difficult to reach . Plus , thanks to the moisture - drive waxy coating , egg and adults are safe from most contact sprays .
With several applications and undecomposed insurance coverage , insecticidal soaps can be effective against those in the nightcrawler stage .
Bonide Insecticidal Soap
Find insecticidal soap products such asBonide Insecticidal Soap at Arbico Organics , orGarden Safe Insecticidal Soap at Home Depot .
Monterey Horticultural Oil
Apply horticultural oil , such as this production from Monterey , useable from Arbico Organics , or neem oil to pink down pest population before introducing a beneficial insect species likeCryptolaemus montrouzierior lacewings .
admit these products to dry on the plants and start taking effect before releasing beneficials . Be aware that neem oil can be toxic forpollinators such as bee , so use early in the morning or later at night when they are n’t present .
Pyrethroids such as bifenthrin , useable at Home Depot , will kill mealybugs .
But keep in mind that pyrethroids can harm beneficial dirt ball , so sentry for the front of natural enemies before using , and use with precaution !
Indoor Outdoor Insecticide with Bifenthrin
Systemic insect powder are more effective than contact insecticides , as they feed through the industrial plant itself and will be suck up by any insect that are feeding on it .
Be sure to pursue all packageinstructions for secure useif you choose to apply these products .
Neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid and dinotefuran are sometimes used by commercial-grade growers to curb outbreaks , since they do n’t postulate multiple software . And , being systemic , extend to places on the plant that contact insecticides would n’t .
Pestered Plants
Whether you recognize you ’ve got them or not , mealy bug are not welcomed by industrial plant owners or industrial plant .
These tiny , soft , exotic looking worm give suck sugary life-time lineage , excrete sticky honeydew which get ugly sooty mold , and can transmitter disease .
Someday , when I ’m sure my mom ’s forgotten who introduced mealybugs to her plant assemblage in the first place , I ’ll carefully approach the national of how she treat them .
And while you ’re at it , learn how to protect your garden and houseplant from other sucking worm begin with these articles oncommon garden pestsnext :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally bring out June 15th , 2021 . Last update April 26th , 2025 . Product pic via Arbico Organics and Home Depot . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Sylvia Dekker
