Controlling Indoor & Outdoor Mealybugs Organically |
Posted: December 10, 2020 |
When gardening, have you noticed small white bugs that look like pieces of fluff with legs protruding from them? These insects are small, but they can do a lot of damage if they are not kept in control, both to indoor and outdoor plants. Mealybugs are related to pests like whiteflies and do damage by feeding on plant stems and introducing disease. They insert their sharp mouths into plant stems and leaves, sucking the sap from them and leaving plants wrinkled. They may also leave behind egg sacs and other compounds that encourage disease in plants. Luckily, there are some control measures you can use to keep them in check and prevent extensive damage toyour garden. Identify Damage The first thing you need to do is to find mealybugs, which is often easy because they tend to cluster together on plants, making their white coloring stand out even more against plant stems. Mealybugs may also be pinkish, such as the hibiscus mealybug, so keep an eye out for these bugs in your garden. Plants that you are likely to find these bugs on include hoyas, jade plants, gardenias, begonias, and other plants with high levels of nitrogen. Small Outbreaks When you notice a few mealybugs on your plants, you can get rid of them by spraying the plants with water. Spraying mealybugs keeps them from feeding, but you may also consider using neem oil as a deterrent. Neem oil will keep mealybugs from returning to the plant without causing damage to pollinators like bees. Integrate Feeders Feeders are insects that can feed on the pests plaguing your garden pest, helping organic control efforts. Planting flowers that attract these insects is ideal, but you can also purchase insects from websites and verified sellers to give your garden a boost. Some of the insects that feed on pests like mealybugs include lacewings, parasitic wasps, ladybugs, and pirate bugs. Ants crowd around mealybugs, protecting them from natural predators that would otherwise control their population. You could try planting a crop to attract ants, giving them a new source of nectar. When mealybugs are left out of control, you can find yourself wondering what to do. However, you can keep small outbreaks from growing by using water and neem oil while larger outbreaks may require
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