Last Updated on November 16, 2021 by Marco C.
So where do mealybugs come from? Whether you are a first-time gardener or have been gardening for a while, you have probably encountered mealybugs in plants.
Mealybugs are often found in tropical regions. They grow in greenhouses and even indoors, on your houseplants. According to Planet Natural, mealybugs look like tiny cotton bugs that stick on plants.
While these tiny creatures look like they can fly, they are wingless. They lay eggs and can multiply in hundreds and millions of other mealybugs in just a day. Without proper care, white bugs on plants can start forming together in masses.
Where Do Mealybugs Come From and How To Get Rid Of Them?
Mealybugs are native to regions with hotter weather. However, they can also exist in colder regions. The following are some steps you can follow to get rid of the mealybugs on your plant.
Stage 1
Dunk cotton balls and swabs in alcohol and eliminate every noticeable mealybug. Use balls to clean the leaves and swabs to clean inside the holes. If you find the mealybugs on outdoor plants to be severe, you can use your own hands to remove them. You can spray alcohol directly to the colony and remove them slowly using your hands. Be careful that you don’t destroy the leaves.
Stage 2
Blend 1 cup of alcohol with a few drops of Dawn dish cleanser and 1 quart (32oz) of water. Pour the mixture into the shower bottle and spray it to the stem and the leaves.
Stage 3
Splash the entire plant, not just where mealybugs are apparent. Splash leaves well, top, and under, and stems.
Repeat the treatment a few times per week until the issue is no more. You may need to constantly check your plants for new infestation. Some mealybugs can go away for a few hours and come back – this time in another plant.
Stage 4:
Make a point to cover the surface on which you are getting the plant to keep away from any harm to furniture and additionally floor.
Remember to clean up and equipment after you work on any plant with mealybug before contacting different plants. Mealybugs can attack your succulents anytime, especially if they grow in hotter places. This is why you must keep your plant in check.
Where Do Mealybugs Come From and Why Does It Matter?
So where do mealybugs come from? As we have said, regions with hotter seasons can be prone to mealybugs. It is important to know where white bugs on plants come from because you may never when they hit your plant.
As days turn hot, you shouldn’t be too complacent with your plants. At any point in the spring or summer season, your plant can wither and die. When you know a thing or two about mealybugs, you can save your plant in no time.
The following are some tips on how you should care for your succulent and prevent mealybugs especially if you are in tropical regions.
Mealybug Prevention 101
- Pruning and annihilating impacted parts. This is especially helpful at the underlying phase of pervasion.
- Removing and annihilating vigorously invaded plants.
- Removing mealybugs by scouring or picking mealybugs from impacted plants. This is practicable when the invasion is low.
- Spraying a constant flow of water (sensibly high tension) on the host plant to knock off mealybugs. Once on the ground, the fallen ones will be accessible to ground hunters and this will likewise make their re-visitation of the plant troublesome. Ensure that there are no insects tending mealybugs, if not they will be taken back to the host plants.
- Ensuring soil fertility. Much of the time solid plants can withstand some mealybug assault. Besides, improvement of soil richness can upgrade organic control movement as displayed on account of the mealybugs on outdoor plants.
- Succulents planted in pure sand with mulch cover are more prone to mealybugs. Hence, you need to ensure that you also use the right type of soil for your succulents.
- If you are buying soil from other gardens or your local nursery, you need to ensure that the soil is treated and healthy. The soil may have already been infested with eggs. So, when it reaches your garden, it affected the other soils as well. Only buy gardening or potting mix from your trusted supplier.
Conclusion: Where Do Mealybugs Come From
In truth, when you are wondering about “where do mealybugs come from”, there are so many answers. Most of us get confused about their real sources. For sure, we already know that they are common in tropical regions, so our succulents are not safe from them.
However, there are many other sources of mealybugs such as the following:
- Bringing home a new plant – It is important to know where you are getting your plant. Some of these plants could have been previously infected with mealybugs. Even if they look new and healthy, you may never know when an egg would hatch. Imported succulents are at risk of having mealybugs.
- Using contaminating potting soil – Honestly, it’s hard to know when your soil is contaminated until your plant shows some sign. This is why it is important to know your sources when you are buying soil. Look for feedback and positive reviews when buying soil. Also, you need to look at the country where you are sourcing your soil. It is best that you just buy your soil from local sources.
- Putting houseplants outside during the summer. Indoor succulent plants are rarely attacked by mealybugs. This is because room temperature is not the best for mealybugs development.
- Fresh flowers or vegetables from the grocery store – The fresh products you’re buying from the grocery store may be infested with mealybugs.
- Ants – Another carrier of mealybugs is ants. Sometimes, they bring mealybugs so that they can feed off of the honeydew residue that’s produced by the bugs.
Learn more about: Does Alcohol Kill Ants: Know The Facts
Mealybugs can be everywhere. Hence, at the first sign of mealybugs on outdoor plants, you need to get rid of them.
