Mealybugs are insects that live on plants and trees. You’ll often find them in bark crevices or under leaves, as they are particularly fond of hot, dry climates. They can appear in many different forms, and can be red or green in color. Although they’re hard to get rid of, there are natural remedies.
In this article, you’ll find the answers to your questions: how can you quickly and effectively get rid of mealybugs on your indoor and outdoor plants?
What are mealybugs?
Definition and characteristics
A mealy bug is a biting-sucking insect that feeds on plant sap. These small insects, often white or gray in color, are covered with a waxy or cottony substance that protects them. Mealybugs are widespread, both in gardens and indoors, and can cause considerable damage if not treated promptly. By sucking plant sap, they weaken plants, compromising their growth and health.
The different mealybug families
There are several families of mealybugs, each with its own characteristics. Mealybugs are the most common, and can be identified by the white, cottony substance they secrete. They are particularly tenacious and can rapidly invade a plant. Scale insects, on the other hand, have a hard shell that makes them more difficult to eliminate. Thanks to their natural protection, they can withstand numerous treatments, making their eradication more complex.
Plants that can be infected
Most green plants are very fragile and vulnerable. Here are a few examples:
- orchids,
- ficus
- lilac
- hydrangeas,
- olive trees.
Mealybugs belong to the Homoptera family, which includes a number of small but formidable pests.
There are many other plants that must be saved from mealybugs.
Damage caused by mealybugs
What damage do mealybugs cause?
Mealybugs can cause serious damage to plants by sucking out their sap, weakening plants and reducing their ability to photosynthesize. The leaves of infested plants often become sticky from the honeydew produced by mealybugs, which encourages the development of black fungi called fumagines. These fungi can further damage the plant by blocking the light needed for photosynthesis. What’s more, honeydew attracts ants, which in turn can cause other problems for plants. So it’s crucial to act quickly to eliminate mealybugs and prevent damage.
How to control mealybugs
Mealybugs often appear in late spring, summer or autumn. Although not specified,they can affect many types of shrubs. You need to take these insects seriously, as their attacks can damage your plants in the blink of an eye.
- Mealybugs feed on the energy of ornamental and other plants, weakening them.
- They impair plant growth and development, which can even lead to the appearance of black fumaginous fungi.
- They compromise your citrus and fruit harvests, and can even doom plants forever.
You need to be well aware of any invasion of these insects and take the necessary steps to eliminate cochineal as quickly as possible. This pest is a real nuisance on a plant or in a family vegetable garden, and your plantations may not recover. Certain treatments, such as fern purin, are effective thanks to their natural insecticidal properties.
What treatment against mealybugs?
After a great deal of research, researchers have approved some highly effective methods against mealybugs. Among these, white vinegar stands out as an effective natural solution thanks to its acidity, which kills these insects when correctly diluted with water and sometimes combined with other products such as black soap. These are often referred to as “grandmother’s remedies”, and are widely recognized as a 100% healthy, organic and natural treatment.
Alcohol-based solution
For this solution, mix alcohol with water and apply it to the scale insects using a cotton bud. This method can be effective in drying out pests, but take care not to damage delicate plant parts.
Vinegar-based solution
Vinegar, particularly white vinegar, can be used in combination with other products such as black soap to boost its insecticidal effect. Properly dilute vinegar with water to avoid damaging plants while effectively eliminating mealybugs.
First solution
Take a liter of water and pour in a teaspoon of soybean oil, a teaspoon of liquid black soap and a teaspoon of 90° alcohol, available from your chemist (for 2 liters of water, use tablespoons of each ingredient, a tablespoon of black soap…).
It’s easy to use. All you need to do is spray the solution onto the underside and tops of the leaves. This operation is repeated every hour during the day, then once a week for eight weeks.
To protect the soil in your pot or garden, wrap it in plastic film and remove it as soon as you’ve finished after each application. This old-fashioned remedy against mealybugs is easy to apply.
Second solution
Liquid black soap can also be used on its own, by pouring 150 ml into a spray bottle with one and a half liters of water. Apply three times a week.
Third solution
You can optfor anti-cochineal solutions based on white oil. The latter is available in specialized stores and has proven its effectiveness. Alternatively, you can wipe the leaves gently with a cloth moistened with 90° alcohol, then rinse with water.
You can use an adjustable water jet to spray the solution you’ve chosen onto the foliage affected by this invasion.
Fourth solution
There’s another very effective solution:a solution based on nettle purin, a traditional and highly ecological recipe.
When you use 100% natural products in your garden, you protect and strengthen your plants. All you need is a sprayer and some nettle purin, which doesn’t cost much in the stores if you don’t have any nettle stems at home.
To prepare this solution, place 1 kilo of nettle slurry leaves in a bucket or deep wooden tub and add two liters of water. Leave the mixture to macerate for around two weeks,stirring every three days. As soon as the maceration period is over, remember to get rid of the leaf residues by filtering the solution and putting it in the sprayer.
Now you know how to get rid of mealybugs naturally and effectively. You’ll be able to say goodbye to these harmful garden pests for good!
