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How to Get Rid of Mealybugs on Plants? Mealybugs Treatment on Plants

White Insects Treatment on Plants | How to Get Rid of Mealybugs (White Insects) on Plants | Mealybugs Treatment on Plants | Get Rid of Mealybugs | Mealybugs Treatment Home Remedy

It is very disappointing to see one’s plants getting infected with mealy bugs. The plant tends to lose strength and may eventually die if left untreated. When using potent chemical pesticides is not an option, one needs to settle for a less harmful alternative. The mealybugs tend to be stubborn and do not go away with home-based remedies. This article will help you understand the best way in which you can get rid of mealybugs and ensure healthier plants.

Did you know? Mealybugs are soft-bodied wingless insects that appear in the form of a white cottony mass on the leaves. They suck the fluids from the greens, leaves, and stems of the plants.

In this article, you will learn the following:

  1. What are White Mealy Bugs?
  2. Why are White Mealy Bugs and ants found together on a plant?
  3. List of Plants that are susceptible to mealy bug attacks
  4. Signs of a Mealybug attack
  5. Process for treating a plant under a mealybug attack | Mealybugs on plants treatment tips

If you love to have butterflies in your garden then read How to Attract Butterflies to your Garden.

What are White Mealybugs?

Mealybugs are soft-bodied wingless insects that appear in the form of a white cottony mass on the leaves. They suck the fluids from the greens, leaves, and stems of the plants.

What are White Mealybugs?

Why are White Mealy Bugs and Ants found together on a plant?

The mealybugs excrete honeydew, which is a food for ants. So, you will spot lots of ants on a plant that is infected with mealy bugs. In this way, the mealybugs and ants share a symbiotic relationship. The mealybugs give food to ants, and the ants protect the mealybugs by covering them whenever there is an attack in the form of a pesticide. The ants are also able to move the mealybugs from one plant to another. It is crucial to isolate a plant with mealybugs on it to prevent neighbouring plants from getting infected.

Did you know? The mealybugs give food to ants, and the ants protect the mealybugs by covering them whenever there is an attack in the form of a pesticide.

List of plants that are susceptible to white mealybugs attacks

The list of plants that are susceptible to white mealybugs attacks are:

  • Mealybugs on Areca Palm
  • Mealybugs on Banana
  • Mealybugs on Bird of Paradise
  • Mealybugs on Brinjal Plant
  • Mealybugs on Broccoli
  • Mealybugs on Cactus
  • Mealybugs on Cauliflower
  • Mealybugs on Cherries
  • Mealybugs on Christmas Cactus
  • Mealybugs on Coleus
  • Mealybugs on Croton
  • Mealybugs on Fuscia
  • Mealybugs on Grapevine
  • Mealybugs on Guava
  • Mealybugs on Hibiscus Plant
  • Mealybugs on Houseplants
  • Mealybugs on Jade
  • Mealybugs on Jade Plants
  • Mealybugs on Money Plant
  • Mealybugs on Monstera
  • Mealybugs on Orchids
  • Mealybugs on Pineapple
  • Mealybugs on Plants
  • Mealybugs on Poinsettia
  • Mealybugs on Pothos
  • Mealybugs on Rosemary
  • Mealybugs on Succulents
  • Mealybugs on Sugarcane
  • Mealybugs on Tomato Plant
  • Mealybugs on Tulsi Plant
Mealybugs Treatment

Signs of White Mealybugs attacks

  • White cottony masses on leaves and stems
  • White insects near the veins of the leaves
  • Yellow leaves
  • Wilted leaves
  • Weak stem
  • Ants on the plant

Process of treating a plant under mealybugs attack

Wait until sunset, mix 5ml of shampoo to a litre of water in a sprayer and give it a mix. Spray this mixture thoroughly over a plant and under the leaves. Let this mixture stay on the plants overnight and wash away this water solution the first thing in the morning. Application in this manner will prevent the photosynthesis process of the plant from getting hampered.

Repeat the application several times with a gap of at least two days. The application of this solution can be repeated depending on the intensity of the infestation.

Here’s a Tip: Coat your plants with neem oil, which is nutrient-rich, and this will prevent the bugs from attacking the plant.

Chetna Bhalla

Chetna Bhalla, founder of GetMyHarvest.com. She believes that by sharing knowledge and ideas, one can make this world a better place. Chetna is also a founder at MyTechMantra.com, a favorite website in the Tech world. She believes that it is the need of the times to connect with nature. She is very passionate about the idea of living close to nature. Chetna co-founded this website along with her husband Ashish and son Vihaan during the COVID-19 Pandemic to inculcate a love for life and to provide ideas to engage kids productively. She wants to create a brigade of green ambassadors who are future-ready and understand the importance of cooking from fresh produce. Please connect with her via comments on the website.

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