Mealybugs
Find out how to identify and deal with mealybugs, in our guide.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to act | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
What are mealybugs?
Mealybugs are soft-bodied, 4mm-long insects often found on greenhouse plants and house plants such as cacti and succulents, feeding on their sap. They're covered by a white, waxy secretion, and congregate in leaf axils and other inaccessible parts of plants. In large numbers they can debilitate the plants and secrete a sticky, sugary honeydew that covers the leaves, which often results in further problems, such as sooty moulds.
Symptoms
Infestations of white, waxy insects on indoor and greenhouse plants, along with sticky honeydew and possibly sooty mould on the leaves.
How to control mealybugs
- Inspect new plants before buying them or bringing them indoors
- Move hardy plants outside where birds such as blue tits can control them naturally
- Dispose of fallen leaves that might have the bugs or eggs attached
- On plants like cactus and succulents you may be able to remove mealybugs with tweezers, if the infestation is small
- If mealybugs are present in large numbers, a natural way to kill mealybugs is to use the predatory ladybird Cryptolaemus montrouzieri. Do this in summer when temperatures rise
- Alternatively try spraying plants with fatty acids or plant oils. You may need to do this a few times to completely kill the mealybugs
- Severely affected plants may need to be destroyed
Christmas offer
Gift a subscription to BBC Gardeners' World magazine and save 51% on the shop price.
Year Planner 2025 on sale
Starting to plan your gardening year? The Year Planner 2025 is packed with expert advice from the Gardeners’ World team, to ensure you have your best gardening year yet.
New podcast series
Join Monty and the team for advice on winter gardening, tulips, caring for birds, house plants and more in the new BBC Gardeners' World Magazine podcast series.
