Mealybugs are parasites that suck the blood of plants, a fairly common problem in both greenhouses and houseplants: with this ingredient they can be eliminated in a second.
In the control of these insects we can use both beneficial insects and natural substances such as insecticides.
Plant mealybugs: what are they?
Mealybugs are small wingless insects, they can be seen as soft, white clumps that attach themselves to every part of the plants.
The cochineal survives thanks to the “stylet” that allows it to suck the sap out of the tissue.
In the presence of a few specimens, the plant does not suffer any damage, however, when these increase, the plant weakens. At this point, the leaves turn yellow and curl.
Subsequently, the “honeydew” appears sticky on the plant, it is a kind of patina, a sugary secretion created by insects that is emitted by insects that feed on the leaves.
In their life cycle females can lay 300 to 600 eggs, mostly waxy mass is deposited on the underside of the leaves.
How to prevent
Mealybugs love to infest particular tropical species and mealybug removal is quite difficult to perform. This is because maturing insects have a tendency to root in the folds of the leaves or in any case in parts that are difficult to access both by insecticides and by washing.
For these reasons, preventing their appearance is the best way to prevent their appearance in our plants.
As they can already appear in the greenhouse, when we buy a plant we must check them carefully before taking it home.
The plant should be kept separate from the others for about a week, as they could also infest the others.
To counteract mealybugs from plants, it is possible to proceed with a “vigorous wash”. By subjecting the foliage of plants to a constant stream of water, we can eliminate a large part of the mealybug deposits. This system works especially for small infestations.
Rubbing alcohol also kills and kills mealybugs instantly and kills them. Use a solution of isopropyl alcohol and water (alcohol should not exceed 70%).
It is best to test the compound on a leaf before proceeding with its application throughout the plant to ensure that it is not damaged.
Eliminates mealybugs: just one drop of this ingredient
Neem oil is essential for naturally treating garden pests and diseases, such as insects and fungi. It is obtained from the leaves and seeds of the Azadirachta Indica tree, also called Indian lilac because it is native to India.
Neem oil is an excellent ally in our organic garden to prevent and treat parasites, capable of keeping plants healthy and avoiding diseases without harming in any way the environment, plants, beneficial insects or our own health.
Its main use is for spraying or watering to combat some parasites and prevent fungi that can affect our indoor plants or the garden. Neem oil contains a large number of biological active ingredients, with an extraordinary potential to act as a natural insecticide, breaking its life cycle.
It also respects beneficial insects, for example it has no effect on beneficial insects such as bees or ladybugs, since they do not eat the plant and Neem oil acts by ingestion, and is safe for humans and animals.
This oil is a plant strengthening fungicide. As well as acting beneficially on our body, it also protects the plant and strengthens it from bacterial attack. It also supplies nitrogen and nutrients to the plant.
Neem oil can be used regularly for the prevention of parasites and also for treatment when they have already occurred.
We can use it in irrigation water, as it penetrates the plant through the roots and distributes it to its tissues that will be transmitted to the insect when it eats them.
Or we can use it by misting the plants, the insect will eat it directly but, due to the influence of the sun, Neem oil remains active only for 5 days.