nurtomi

Mealybugs

White cotton-like clusters may hide in leaf joints.

Mealybugs clustered on a plant stem.
Mealybugs clustered on a plant stem. Photo: Валерія Матвєєва · CC0 · Resized and converted for display.

What to look for

Look along stems, leaf joints and leaf undersides for white waxy insects. Sticky honeydew or yellowing may accompany them, but white dust alone does not confirm mealybugs.

What to do

Separate a movable plant and inspect its neighbors. Remove small groups with a damp cotton swab or gently rinse suitable foliage. Recheck joints regularly and repeat removal as needed.

Sources