DEALING WITH MEALYBUGS AND NYMPHS

Mealybugs also known as Nymphs are small, pale insects that look like scales. They are about ⅛ to ¼ inches long and move very slowly.

Adult females cover themselves and their eggs in a white, waxy material that gives them a cottony appearance. Some have waxy filaments that extend beyond the boundaries of their bodies.

The eggs hatch into Nymphs (immature forms). The waxy coating begins to form once they begin to feed.

Nymphs resemble adults, but are much smaller. The wax on mealybugs repels pesticides, making them difficult to control.

Mealybugs are typically found on the undersides of leaves and in leaf axils (where the leaf attaches to the stem). One species consumes the roots. They suck plant sap, causing stunted and distorted growth and sometimes plant death. Mealybugs, like aphids, excrete honeydew, which encourages the growth of sooty mold fungi.

Healthy Plants tips:

Individual mealybugs can be removed by hand or by wiping each insect with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to control light infestations. It is also possible to use an insecticidal soap spray. If the plant is heavily infested, it may be necessary to discard it. To control mealybugs on outdoor houseplants, spray with neem oil extract, pyrethrins, acetamiprid, imidacloprid, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, or lambda cyhalothrin. Mealybugs can be controlled with imidacloprid granules applied to the soil. To ensure safe use, follow the directions on the label.