How to Get Rid of the Cottony Mealybug

There are different types of mealybugs, being the cottony and the fluffy (Icerya purchasi) the most common. These two mealybug species they secrete a cottony molasses with which they protect their eggs.

The mealybug is one of the most common garden pests. The insect, about 3 millimeters long, attacks many types of plants, hiding on the back of their leaves. The male of the species is winged and has a fly-like appearance. In mating, the female, which is aptera, lays about 2000 eggs and is responsible for secreting the honeydew to protect them.

The cochineal has a greyish or light yellow color, oval in shape, and is always covered by cottony silk. They develop more easily in hot climates with high humidity. Extreme cold, on the other hand, drives this pest away.

The types of mealybugs best known in tropical climates are:

• Long-tailed mealybug (Pseudococcus longispinus)
• Tomato mealybug (Pseudococcus affinis)
• Serpeta (Lepidosaphes)
• Gray louse (Parlatoria pergandii)
• Olive wood scale (Saissetia oliae)
• White Casparreta (Ceroplastes sinensis)

The mealybug is a pest difficult to exterminate if it is not attacked in time. In addition to reproducing quickly, mealybugs hide in the less visible parts of plants. This, coupled with its tiny size, makes it difficult to attack the pest before it spreads.

When the presence of mealybugs is numerous, it is easier to see them, as they are grouped in rows in leaves, flowers and stems. However, by then, it may be too late, as all the nutrients sucked out by the pest can kill any plant.

To know how to get rid of the cottony mealybug and prevent these insects from invading your garden and sucking the sap from your plants, we suggest the following methods to eliminate the cottony mealybug. Pay close attention to the instructions for each of them.

Mealybugs are sensitive to the odor and composition of soap mixed with burning alcohol. Thus, you can use these products to eliminate mealybug quickly. Follow the next steps:

1. Dilute liquid soap in drinking water.
2. Add burning alcohol and mix well.
3. Prepare the mixture using equal parts of its components, to obtain a dusting product.
4. Sprinkle the mixture on the affected plants.

Apply the mixture weekly until the pest is extinguished.

Using alcohol in watering your plants is another effective method against the cottony mealybug. You can use this alternative to combat the plague of this insect. Read the instructions below to do so:

1. Mix rubbing alcohol with water.
2. Use the alcoholic water to water infested stems and leaves.
3. Apply irrigation every 15 days.

This method is recommended, mainly, for succulents, since alcohol can harm other plants more sensitive to its composition. It is also advisable to use cloths moistened with alcohol to clean the leaves and stems full of mealybugs. Discover in this article more ways to eliminate pests in succulent plants.

Neem oil is an ideal vegetable oil to combat pests in gardens, since its power as an insecticide has been scientifically proven. To eliminate the mealybug quickly you must use it in the following way:

1. Dilute half a tablespoon of neem oil in a bottle of water.
2. Add a few drops of liquid dish soap to the mixture.
3. Spray the infested plants with the mixture.

Apply this product 3 times per week until the mealybugs are exterminated.

The Cryptolaemus ladybug is the terror of mealybugs. Therefore, it is advisable to buy some of these insects in a specialized store. Take them to your garden and, in a few days, they will be in charge of exterminating this annoying pest of your plants.

Others natural exterminators of the mealybugs that you can take to your garden to eradicate the pest are:

• Cryptolaemus montrouzieri beetle: It feeds on mealybugs, ants and other insects that are harmful to your plants.
• Trichogramma wasp: Its larvae feed on mealybugs and aphids, mainly.

If you want to know more methods to eliminate mealybug from plants, do not hesitate to visit our article about it.

Since these pests are difficult to detect and can damage your plants very easily, it is best to do your best to prevent mealybugs. Follow these tips and mealy bugs are hardly a concern:

• Avoid excess humidity in your garden, watering with caution.
• Watch out for ant invasions, as they usually carry the mealybug.
• Prune your plants frequently and check the back of flowers and leaves, the favorite hiding place for the pest.
• Wash pots and trays with plenty of water and soap.
• Replace the soil if your garden suffers from frequent infestations.

Do you want to know more about pest prevention? Find out here How to clean the leaves of plants to keep them healthy and beautiful.

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