Dab the mealybugs with a cotton ball swab soaked in rubbing alcohol to dry the insects out. Wash the plant with a gentle detergent and water to help control mealybugs. Spray the indoor plant with an oil spray or soap spray. These sprays will suffocate or dry out the mealybugs and kill them.
Consequently, how do you get rid of woolly aphids on houseplants?
Considering this, how do plants get mealybugs?
They come from warmer climates and can come into your home (or outdoor plants) by bringing home infested plants from a nursery. They spread from plant to plant and feed off of growth points. They are white, tiny little guys that form cottony nests where they are feeding.
What causes mealy bug on indoor plants?
Mealybugs can infest a number of indoor houseplants, particularly tropical species. Mealybugs are attracted to plants with high nitrogen levels and soft growth; they may appear if you overwater and over-fertilize your plants.
Can mealybugs infest your house?
Mealybugs are plant feeders and will infest most parts of their host plant. They normally are located on the underside of plant leaves and stems, and populate many outdoor plants such annuals, bushes and shrubs. Mealybugs will heavily infest almost any plants in greenhouses, homes or businesses.
Are woolly aphids bad?
Woolly aphids are found only on hackberry trees. If you find them on other plants or on your back porch, they landed there by accident. These aphids are not harmful to people and do not bite or sting. They’re mainly just a nuisance.
How do you keep woolly aphids away?
Treatment
- Check tree shoots and bark regularly for signs of woolly aphid.
- Scrub areas within easy reach with a brush and a bucket of soapy water.
- Spray infested areas with a firm jet of water to help reduce aphid numbers.
- Spray with natural fatty acids such as an insecticidal soap.
Are woolly aphids harmful to plants?
Although woolly aphid populations rarely get large enough to harm most plants, the distorted and curled leaves they cause and leave behind can certainly become unsightly. For this reason, many people prefer to use some type of woolly aphid treatment to take care of these pests.
