Mealybugs are a major pest of greenhouse plants and houseplants and can occasionally affect outdoor landscape plants. These insects are white, soft-bodied, and often appear fuzzy or dusty. They are typically found on the undersides of leaves or tucked into leaf joints and stem crevices, where they feed on plant sap and weaken overall plant health.
Quick Mealybug Control Tips
- Inspect new houseplants carefully before bringing them home
- Mealybugs hide in leaf joints and crevices—thorough coverage is critical
- Multiple treatments are usually required for control
- Severely infested plants may need to be discarded
How to Identify Mealybugs
Mealybugs are white to pale gray insects often covered with a waxy, cotton-like coating. They are commonly found in clusters along stems, in leaf axils, or on the undersides of leaves. When populations are high, plants may appear sticky due to honeydew production.
This honeydew can encourage the growth of black sooty mold, which further weakens plants by blocking sunlight and reducing photosynthesis.
Why Mealybugs Are Hard to Control
Mealybugs are protected by a waxy coating that makes them resistant to many contact sprays. They also hide in hard-to-reach areas, allowing populations to persist even after treatment. Indoors, they reproduce year-round, and multiple life stages are often present at the same time.
Control Options
- Prevent introduction: Carefully inspect new houseplants and tropicals before purchase.
- Oil treatments: Neem oil or Bonide’s All Seasons Horticultural Oil can be effective but require multiple applications for good control.
- Systemic control: Bonide’s Systemic Houseplant Insect Control can help manage young mealybugs feeding on roots and stems.
- Severe infestations: Plants that are heavily infested and not valuable may be best discarded to prevent spread.
*Please read and follow all label instructions when applying chemicals.