Notice the large Mealy Bug nest near the center of this
image. The small white spots are baby Mealy bugs or crawlers leaving the
nest.
| Latin name: |
Pseudococcus longispinus,
Phenacoccus solani, Ferrisia virgata and Planococcus citri |
| Common name: |
Long-tailed Mealy, Solanum
Mealy, Striped Mealy and Citrus Mealy bug. |
| Description: |
Mealy bugs are soft bodied
insects about 1/8" long. They are white to pinkish-white in
color. Several pairs of legs can be seen. Their body is covered
with a waxy substance making chemical control difficult. Mealy
tends to hide out in the tight crevasses of the plant nodes. |
| Hosts: |
Nearly any foliage plant
can be susceptible to Mealy bug. |
| Life cycle: |
Mealy bugs are hatched
from eggs. A female Mealy can lay up to 300 eggs with or without a
male. Incubation lasts up to 14 days depending on temperature and
humidity. Nymphs or crawlers mature in about 2 weeks and can be
seen moving about the plant. |
| Natural control: |
If populations are low...
the thumb and forefinger trick works well along with dabbing each
Mealy bug with Alcohol. Spay with Safer's Ultra Fine Oil spray. |
| Chemical control: |
I have found that spraying
Mealy bug with Safer's Ultra Fine Oil spray seems to melt the waxy
coating from them. Come back the next day and hit them with a
Dycarb/Orthene mix. Malathion should also work well. Always read
label directions and wear appropriate safety equipment when
applying any chemical. |
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