Have you noticed a strange, white coating on your plants? What sounds like mold at first could also be a mealybug infestation, which you should notice upon closer inspection. These pests not only look unsightly, they also damage your plants and can quickly spread to others. That's why you should act immediately and fight the mealybugs. For this purpose, there are a number of effective home remedies that we would like to introduce to you today. Find out from us how you can recognize lice, what the first measures are and what you can do about them afterwards!
How to recognize the lice based on their appearance and the damage to the plant
The name already gives a clue as to what these pests look like: fluffy and white. The louse gets this appearance due to excretions that resemble wax and settle on them and their surroundings. Thisso-called honeydewalso promotes the formation of sooty mold. Otherwise it is a type of scale insect, so it is characterized by an armor-like body. The size of the mealybug can vary between one and twelve millimeters - large enough to be seen with the naked eye. Other typical names for these little animals are mealybug and root louse.
Plants infected with these lice develop yellow leaves. Over time these curl up as they die and then fall off. If no action is taken against the infestation, the plant can die sooner or later, as the pests occur all year round (in house plants). The following plants are particularly often affected:
- Birch fig
- grasses
- Rubber tree
- Hortensie
- Cacti
- Orchids
- Passionsblume
- Poinsettia
- Yucca
It is important that you get rid of existing mealybugs as soon as possible as they reproduce extremely quickly, mainly because they can reproduce unisexually. The lice feel comfortable on all parts of the plant, but it depends on the species whether they attach themselves to one spot or wander around on the plant.
So you have mealybugs – what’s the best thing to do about it?
Although some people choose to combat mealybugs chemically, we recommend that you only do this in an emergency and if none of thenatural meanshelped against mealybugs. With chemical agents you harm the environment, including beneficial insects, which is not absolutely necessary.
The first step should be to isolate the affected plants from all others; it is best to put them in a place that is bright but also cool. As mentioned, these pests spread really quickly from one plant to the next, which you can prevent in this way. Next, they remove and dispose of those parts of the plant that already show signs of disease. Are the roots infected? Repot the plant immediately, discard the old soil and wash the roots thoroughly (e.g. with a jet of water). Disinfect the container. Alcohol is sufficient for this. Use new, preferably disinfected potting soil (e.g. in the oven at 200 degrees for 20 minutes) and discard the old one.
Then take direct action against the lice. The following remedies have proven to be effective:
Fight mealybugs with home remedies – spirit or denatured alcohol and paraffin oil
- 15 ml Spirit
- 1 liter of water
- 15 ml paraffin oil (or curd soap)
Mix these ingredients together, put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray the diseased plants with it.
Would you like mealybugs?fight on orchids, it is better not to spray the product on the plant, but rather dab the product on the affected areas. A brush or cotton swab, for example, is very suitable for this purpose. This also applies to other more sensitive plants, while for those that have fleshy leaves and plant skin (e.g. cacti or succulents), you can even use denatured alcohol - also selectively. This procedure is well suited in the initial stages. If the plant is already heavily infested, this method could prove to be relatively laborious. Another reason why you should regularly check your plants for pests and, if they do, act immediately.
Fight mealybugs with beneficial insects
Enemies of the pests are also ideal if you have mealy bugsfight of coursewant. For example, you can buy Australian ladybirds that feed on the pests. But other insects can also help you, as follows:
- Ladybugfrom a temperature of 20 degrees, indoors for houseplants; Females lay eggs in the colonies, larvae feed on the lice; Be sure to spray plants regularly with water (lime-free), as the beetles need drinking water
- Parasitic waspsfor the garden (more precisely the typeLeptomastix dactylopii); with their larvaefight mealybugs;To attract wasps, drill holes in a piece of wood that will serve as a shelter for the wasps; Holes with a diameter of approximately 3 mm; Hang wood or place it near the plants
- Lacewingsattract to the garden as larvae eat the pests; more than one generation necessary to successfully combat lice; For this purpose, dilute honey with water so that the flies have food and can continue to multiply
Parasitic wasps andLacewings are well suitedIf, for example, you want to combat a mealybug infestation on hydrangeas. But the home remedy mentioned above is also suitable. However, you shouldnotUse glass cleaner against mealybugs or acetic acid, which is also often recommended. Although they are relatively effective, there is also an increased risk that they will damage the plant.
Preventive measures:
- Check new plants for infestation before purchasing
- Adhere to care requirements so that the plant remains strong and less susceptible (lack of light promotes infestation)
- Fertilizers with too high a nitrogen content promote pest infestation
- Ventilate regularly, as dry heating air attracts mealybugs
