Pests · Pillar

Mealybug

Sticky cotton balls in clusters. They need to be touched, do not 'fog the air'.

1 min read

The mealybug hides in the axils of monstera, potted citrus, and cacti. The cotton is wax: the insect is inside.

Identification

White masses, honeydew, ants. When crushed, liquid. On cacti, between ribs.

Swab with diluted soap in small batches. Contact spraying on larger ones, repeat every 7-10 days. Check stakes and neighboring pots.

Potassium soap and patience. A single pass leaves females and offspring.

Does it come from the soil?

Sometimes from the nursery or a new plant. Quarantine upon arrival at home.

Alcohol?

Occasional use on ornamental plants, test on a leaf. In edible gardens, use agricultural soap.

All universes

Remove the cotton by hand and treat what remains. A spray in the air does not reach the axil.

Contact insecticide based on potassium salts of fatty acids. Aphids, whiteflies, and young mealybugs.

Tropical interior: filtered light, coco-perlite, and a stake when it starts to climb.