If you have enough of these plants and wasps in the area, you can effectively reduce and eliminate the mealybugs and control future infestations. Mealybug destroyer beetle (mealybug ladybird) is a non-spotted species of ladybug that prefers mealybugs. Scale insects and mealybugs are plant-feeding pests considered by landscapers and nursery producers to be among the most difficult to control. fine, it is still a good idea to quarantine them for about two weeks anyway. As soon as you see the first signs of insects, isolate that succulent to prevent their spread to your other plants. It may also be beneficial to control … The citrus mealybug, (Planococcus citri) and longtailed mealybug (Pseudococcus longispinus) are two of the more common species.Less common and more difficult to control is the Madeira mealybug (Phenacoccus madeirensis).There are even mealybugs that feed upon plant roots! Ladybird larvae and adults feed on mealybugs, and can be used to control an infestation. Use the Mealybug Destroyer to get rid of mealybugs. To prevent the fuzzy white bugs from reproducing, don’t add too much fertilizer to plants. Feeding plants should give them just enough nutrients to grow healthy. Mealy bugs are those soft bodied white cotton-like pests that suck the juicy sap out of plants. In many cases, mealybugs will enable fungus to grow. Mealybugs are easily recognized by their white, mealy-appearing waxy secretions covering their body. Beneficial cultural practices can also be used for outdoor mealybug control. Preventing Mealybugs on Outdoor Plants. Mealybugs Facts, Identification & Control Scientific Name. This can be helpful when the affected plant has both the pest and the fungus. Family Pseudococcidae . Parasites provide good control of the citrophilus, longtailed, and Comstock mealybugs if they are not destroyed by insecticide applications for other pests.Native predators include lady beetles, lacewings, and syrphid flies.An introduced predator of the citrus mealybug, the mealybug destroyer, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, is a voracious feeder of the pest in both the larval and adult stages. This is an effective approach. Appearance What do they look like? As these wasps appear, they’ll feed on the mealybug populations and help bring down their numbers and control them. Control methods. Like mealybugs, aphids secrete a sweet substance known as honeydew which will attract ants. Many scale insects are so small that they blend into the bark of woody plants, making them even more difficult to spot. To effectively control mealybugs with soapy sprays, it helps to understand the insects' anatomy and life cycle. Follow these agricultural tips to prevent and reduce populations of mealybugs in the garden: If the infested plant can tolerate the cold, the plant can be placed on a windowsill during cold weather. So if you see ants on your succulents, that is a good clue that other pests may be lurking there, too. These white colored devils are quite hard to get rid of once they’ve found a good food source they settle down reproduce rapidly and destroy a healthy plant in no time at all. 3 IN 1 is an organic concentrate that will both kill mealybugs but also control fungus. Mealybugs are very small, soft-bodied, oval-shaped insects that are covered with a white, powdery wax coating. The most common is sooty black mold but there are many fungi that will live alongside mealybugs. Avoid over-fertilization to control mealybugs. This will cause the mealybugs to move to the leaf furthest from the window, where they can be wiped off with a cloth. 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