I found some baby mealybugs on a plant I bought back in January, along with one adult mealybug that had an egg case. Although I managed to kill all the visible bugs using an alcohol-soaked Q-tip, I'm worried about the tiny brownish babies possibly spreading to nearby plants. Since this is my first experience with mealybugs, I'm curious about their behavior. Do baby mealybugs typically stay on the plant they were born on, or do they tend to travel and infest other plants? I plan to treat all my plants with bonide granules once I figure out shipping, but in the meantime, I want to identify any plants at risk for being contaminated.
1 Answer
From what I've read, baby mealybugs, or 'crawlers', can actually spread quite a bit, but they don't fly or jump. They mainly get around by crawling, falling, or hitching a ride on pets or gardening tools. Once they start producing that white stuff, they’ll usually stay put. You might never get them all due to their knack for hiding in tiny crevices. It's a good idea to do multiple treatments to get them under control! Good luck! ?
Thanks for the tips! Quick question—how many treatments do you recommend with bonide granules? I read there’s an 8-week waiting period.
Great advice about the treatments! Should we be worried about root mealies too?