There are thousands of pests that can affect our plants. The genus of cottony mealybugs (Pseudococcidae) alone comprises more than 1,000 species.

They all have a woolly appearance and secrete a viscous molasses to the touch. Fortunately, there are several home and natural remedies that can help you eliminate this pest effectively.

Why are cottony mealybugs so dangerous to plants?

During During the summer months, female mealybugs lay hundreds of eggs after fertilization, usually in a protective, waxy shell.

Normally, two generations of scale insects are produced in an annual cycle. If things go very well for the insects, up to eight generations are possible. This means that if nothing is done against them, mealybugs will spread explosively.

Both adult scale insects and their larvae They show an insatiable appetite. Infected plants are literally dry.

Besides, Insects secrete toxins that are very harmful to plants. If nothing is done, they will end up killing the affected plant.

Which plants are especially at risk?

lHerbaceous plants top the menu favorite of mealybugs. These include both aromatic and perennial plants.

Mealybugs also don’t stop at rubber trees, yucca palms, pineapple plants, passion flower, poinsettias or orchids. In general, theAsteraceae (daisy, calendula, tagetes, etc.) are more likely to be affected.

The orange trees and other citrus fruits They can also suffer from cottony mealybug. Large-scale infestations of citrus orchards can significantly affect the harvest.

How to recognize a cottony mealybug infestation?

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Mealybugs not only They spread their eggs and their woolly white wax coating on or under the leaves. Honeydew, which is palatable to ants, can also be found on branches.

They are insidious because they can hide their eggs in the substrate or in the roots. If you transplant an affected plant, you may observe a kind of white cobwebs stuck to the inside of the old pot.

Additionally, the leaves may turn yellow and fall prematurely.

How to get rid of cottony mealybugs?

If the infestation is not too advanced yet, It may be helpful to put on some gloves and remove the mealybugs from the plant one by one. If you do not have time to do this work, we offer other solutions.

garden plants

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If garden plants are infected, You can sprinkle them with homemade nettle slurry. This natural and economical plant protection product can also be used as a fertilizer with many plants.

You can also treat plants with neem oil, a natural insecticide that is safe for plants and environmentally friendly.

• Mix a tablespoon of neem oil with a liter of water and spray the solution on the affected plants.
• Neem oil acts as a repellent and also kills cottony mealybugs by interfering with their life cycle.

indoor plants

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Infected houseplants They must quarantine as soon as possible because mealybugs spread very quickly.

Move the affected plant to a bright but cool location. If the condition is severe, radical treatment begins: Cut all parts of the plant affected by scale insects.

If the soil or roots are infected, the plant should be transplanted to a new pot.

If the infestation is not yet serious, a garlic broth can help:

• Chop two cloves of garlic and pour a liter of hot water over them.
• After two hours of infusion, strain the mixture.

You just have to spray the affected plant with garlic water.

Alternatively, you can gently rub the leaves with a cloth soaked in a mixture of one part isopropyl alcohol and three parts water to eliminate aphids. Then take a shower in the bathtub. Repeat this treatment every few days until the infestation is gone.

Prevention of cottony mealybug

In addition to home remedies in case the infestation is already a reality, it is important to take preventive measures to avoid future infestations of cottony mealybug. Here are some tips:

• Keep your plants healthy: Healthy plants are less susceptible to pest infestations. Make sure you provide them with enough water, light and nutrients.
• Review them regularly: Inspect your plants for signs of infestation. The sooner you detect the presence of cottony mealybugs, the easier it will be to control them.
• keep it clean: Remove dead leaves and diseased plants from the area around your plants. This will help reduce the pest population.
• Introduces natural enemies: In the garden you can use natural pest control insects, such as larvae of lacewings, parasitic wasps and ladybugs. You can buy these beneficial insects online or in specialized stores. You can even use them to treat the pest: the eggs are laid near the cochineal webs and then nature does the rest.