Pest & Disease Control - Mealybug

Mealybugs: Fluffy Pests Damaging Your Plants

Mealybugs are tiny, white, cottony insects that feed on plant sap, causing damage and spreading disease. They can be difficult to control, but there are effective biological methods to get rid of them.

Identify Mealybugs by looking for:

- White, fluffy patches on stems and leaves

- Honeydew droplets or sooty mold on leaves

- Slowed plant growth and yellowing leaves

At the Orchard of Flavours we use a rubbing alcohol on a cotton earbud to gently and carefully wipe away the Mealybug. Followed by adding diatomaceous earth to the trunk of the tree to prevent ants from spreading Mealybug further.

We also use Koppert Laboratory's biological predators to control mealybug populations, specifically Cryptobug (larvae or adults) or the beautiful predator ladybug Rodolia cardinalis.

Additional Tips:

- Inspect plants regularly for early detection

- Prune infested areas to prevent spread and destroy with fire anything with the pest

 
 

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