Here are a few to keep an eye out for:Ĭitrus Mealybug ( Planococcus citri) – Perhaps the most common species of mealybug in homes, the citrus mealybug also attacks various shrubs and citrus species. Common Species of MealybugĪmong the hundreds of mealybug species out there, a handful tend to stick out, either because of the plants they prefer or distinctive features. The victim plant’s immune system is compromised, leaving it open to a wide range of bacterial and fungal infections. Their honeydew is a primary draw for sooty mold and attracts ants. Ground mealybugs will attack a plant’s roots, often going unnoticed until it’s too late.Įven worse is the ability of mealybugs to cause secondary infections. A large enough infestation can make the strongest plant unsalvageable given the chance.Įven in minor infestations, the feeding can slow plant growth and results in yellow leaves and leaf drop. These critters will damage and even destroy plants, draining them dry like vampires. Mealybug infestations can explode when not treated quickly. In some cases, mealies have been known to attack the fruit of plants, although this isn’t the norm for most species. Some mealybugs which target trees will crawl under the bark where they can safely feed away from the eyes of predators. Mealybugs tend to prefer the underside of leaves, but will also attach the main body of a plant or its roots. As with other scale critters, the initial pressure from puncturing the plant is so great that plant sap is forced straight through the mealybug’s body and is excreted as honeydew. Mealies have piercing mouthparts which allow them to break through the skin of a plant and drink its sap. She then lays clutches containing a grand total of 300 to 600 eggs over a two-week period, dying soon afterwards. Under the right conditions, a female mealybug will go through all three instars into adulthood in as little as one month. ![]() Males only feed for the first two instars and spend the rest of their lives fertilizing the females. The female nymphs usually locate a good feeding ground soon after hatching and begin producing their waxy coating once feeding has begun. Eggs hatch in one to three week, with the female nymphs having three instar stages and males having five. While there’s some variation between species, mealies tend to follow a general life cycle pattern. ![]() See Also: How to Get Rid of Thrips Mealybug Life Cycle Slow moving, they tend to hide in hard-to-see places such as the undersides of leaves and tiny crevasses or joints along the plant’s stem and limbs. Mealybugs are actually a type of scale, but unlike most of their kin, this family of critters remains mobile and wears their wax coating like a suit of armor. When paired with the filaments present on most species, an adult mealybug looks like a small cottony mass and is easily overlooked. With 1/5 to 1/3 inch, multi-segmented bodies resembling tiny pill bugs, the mealybug is best known for its protective waxy coating. They usually range from white to grey, but some species are red, pink, orange, or other colors. Mealybugs are relatives of scale, and there are approximately 270 known species in the US alone. The Difference between Aphids, Mealybugs, and Scale.
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