How do I treat Mealybugs?Updated a year ago
Mealybugs, those notorious pests that can infiltrate nearly any houseplant, derive their name from the white, wooly secretion produced by the females. Identifying an infestation is relatively straightforward; look for white, woolly balls or dots on your houseplant, indicating the unwelcome presence of these tiny invaders. The bugs themselves are white with distinctive stripes down their back and tiny white legs.
While mealybugs are notoriously resilient, there are practical tricks to eliminate them. Start by spraying the bugs with water, as their relatively large size allows for easy inspection to ensure their removal. For a more hands-on approach, use a cotton ball soaked in alcohol to touch and treat each mealybug daily until both the bugs and their telltale white secretion vanish. If these methods prove ineffective, chemical pesticides stand as a last resort.