Typically covered in a white waxy material mealybugs are sap sucking true bugs (Hemiptera) closely related to scale insects https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/scale-insects  and often considered to be unarmored scale insects.  Most species are found in moist warm climates and those that occur in the UK are typically found in glasshouses and other protected environments.

Glasshouse mealybugs are common insects that tend to live together in clusters in inaccessible parts of plants, such as leaf axils, leaf sheaths, between twining stems and under loose bark. There are also some mealybug species found on plant roots. Mealybugs suck sap from plants and then excrete the excess sugars as a substance called honeydew. This lands on the leaves and stems were it is often colonised by sooty moulds, giving the surfaces a blackened appearance.

• Glasshouse mealybugs are found mainly on greenhouse plants and houseplants, especially cacti and succulents, African violets, bougainvillea, citrus plants, fuchsia, grape vines, hoya, orchids (especially Phalaenopsis), oleander, passion flower, peach and tomato
• Some other mealybug species can attack outdoor plants, such as ceanothus, laburnum, New Zealand flax (Phormium mealybug) and redcurrant
• Glasshouse mealybugs thrive in warm conditions and are rarely found on outdoor plants. Glasshouse mealybugs are active all year round on houseplants and in greenhouses
• Some species of glasshouse mealybug feed on plant roots, most of these are Rhizoecus species and are also confined to glasshouse and house plants. One species of root mealybug the golden root mealybug, will survive on roots out of doors

You may see the following symptoms:

• Glasshouse mealybug is usually first noticed as a fluffy white wax produced in the leaf axils or other sheltered places on the plant. The insects or their orange-pink eggs can be found underneath this substance
• Black sooty mould is a sign of sap sucking insects. Large numbers of mealybugs may result in an accumulation of honeydew. This makes plants sticky and encourages the growth of sooty moulds, giving leaf and stem surfaces a blackened appearance
• Large populations can reduce plant vigour and stunt growth and may cause premature leaf fall
• Root mealybugs (Rhizoecus species) are also covered in a white waxy substance and found on plant roots. The golden root mealybug is yellow in colour

Female mealybugs do not fly or crawl far, so they are usually brought in on an affected plant. Inspect new plants carefully before putting them in a greenhouse or conservatory and, where possible, keep them in quarantine (isolated from other plants) for at least a month before adding new acquisitions to an existing collection.

Check susceptible plants frequently so action can be taken before a damaging population has developed. . When choosing management options you can minimise harm to non-target animals by starting with the methods in the non-pesticide control section and avoiding pesticides. Within pesticides the shorter persistence products (that are usually certified for organic growing) are likely to be less damaging to non-target wildlife than those with longer persistence and/or systemic action. Pesticide treatments are likely to kill natural enemies and are only likely to be successful if the entire plant can be reached.

Non-pesticide control

• Dead leaves and pruning’s should be removed from the greenhouse as these may have mealybugs or eggs on them
• It can be simpler to dispose of heavily affected plants rather than try to eliminate mealybugs
• Plant can tolerate some levels of mealybug, although populations can quickly build if left unchecked

Pesticide control

The RHS believes that avoiding pests, diseases and weeds by good practice in cultivation methods, cultivar selection, garden hygiene and encouraging or introducing natural enemies, should be the first line of control. If chemical controls are used, they should be used only in a minimal and highly targeted manner.

• Organic sprays, such as natural pyrethrum (e.g. Bug Clear Ultra 2, Neudorff Bug Free Bug and Larvae Killer) or plant oils (e.g. Vitax Plant Guard Pest & Disease Control, Bug Clear Fruit & Veg, Vitax Rose Guard) can give control of mealybugs. These pesticides have a very short persistence and so may require reapplication to keep mealybugs numbers in check. Plant oil and fatty acid products are less likely to affect larger insects such as ladybird adults
• Plant invigorators combine nutrients to stimulate plant growth with surfactants or fatty acids that have a physical mode of action against mealybugs (e.g. Ecofective Bug Control, Growing Success Bug Stop, Rose Clear 3 in 1 Action SB Plant Invigorator and Westland Resolva Natural Power Bug & Mildew). These products contain some synthetic ingredients and so are not considered organic
• More persistent contact-action insecticides include the synthetic pyrethroids lambda-cyhalothrin (e.g. Westland Resolva Bug Killer), deltamethrin (e.g. Provanto Ultimate Fruit & Vegetable Bug Killer, Provanto Sprayday Greenfly Killer) and cypermethrin (e.g. Py Bug Killer). Permethrin is available as a smoke formulation for use in glasshouses (e.g. DeadFast Greenhouse Smoke Fumigator)
• A systemic containing the active ingredient Flupyradifurone (Provanto Smart Bug Killer) is available for use on ornamentals and selected edibles
• The systemic neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid (e.g. Bug Clear Ultra) is also available

Downloads

Pesticides for gardeners (pdf document)
Biological control suppliers (pdf document)
 
 
 

Several species of mealybug occur in greenhouses or on houseplants. These include Pseudococcus calceolariae (Glasshouse mealybug), P. longispinus (Long tailed mealybug) and Planococcus citri (citrus mealybug) and Rhizoecus species (root mealybugs).

The adult females have flattened oval-shaped soft bodies up to 4mm in length; they are sometimes pink in colour but appear whitish due to the white, waxy powder that covers their bodies. Waxy filaments project from the edges of their bodies. Some species are all female; others have small winged males, but the latter are infrequently seen.

Female mealybugs lay eggs under a white, waxy coating. Mealybug nymphs resemble the adult insects and can complete their development in about a month in mid-summer. Breeding continues throughout the year in greenhouses, but takes place at a slower rate in winter.