Yates Nature's Way Organic Citrus, Vegie & Ornamental Spray
Unique organically certified pyrethrum and plant-based oil combination insecticide, with twin modes of action against garden pests.
Yates Account
Join now
Create a Yates account today!
Sign up to join the Yates Garden Club for monthly e-mails packed with seasonal inspiration, tips for success & exclusive promotions.
Plus if you’re a Garden Club member you can take part in the Yates Growing Community - a blog to share successes, get advice & win prizes in fun challenges along the way!
Forgot password
Enter the email address associated with your account, and we'll email you a new password.
Pseudococcidae
What are Mealybugs?
Mealybugs are small flat-bodied insects, covered with a powdery-looking white coating; some have a fringe of white cottony threads attached to their bodies. Mealybugs feed by sucking on plant juices, then excrete a sweet, sticky substance called honeydew which attracts ants. Honeydew also provides a perfect medium for sooty mould growth.
A persistent offender is the Longtailed Mealybug (Pseudococcus longispinus)
Mild temperatures and high humidity are perfect conditions for mealybugs to breed, as a new generation of eggs hatches every 2-3 weeks, from spring through to autumn. Immature mealybugs prefer to hide in plant crevices or in the elbows between leaves and stems, so by the time you spot an adult the population can be bigger than you expect. Prolonged hot weather helps to reduce numbers.
Heavy infestations can occur on citrus, and grapes, plus daphne and other ornamental plants. Orchids and ferns can be vulnerable, especially in shadehouses. Mealybugs can also attack bulbs during storage, also the roots of some plants, such as polyanthus, liliums and callas.
Symptoms
New growth appears distorted with a whitish substance in the leaf axils. Close inspection will reveal the mealybugs.
Plants impacted
- Citrus trees
- Daphne
- Other ornamental plants
- Orchids
- Ferns
- Bulbs in storage
- The roots of some plants such as polyanthus, liliums and callas.
Yates Conqueror Spraying Oil
An intermediate spraying oil for control of scale, mites and mealy bug on fruit trees, grapes and ornamentals.
More articles
Scale Insects
Scales are insect pests which spend most of their lives as immobile adults under a pink, white, brown, black or white coating, sucking the sap from stalks, leaves and stems. Here's how to identify and control them in your garden or indoor plants.
Sooty Mould
Sooty mould is a fungal disease which presents as a black powdery substance coating plant leaves, stems and twigs usually accompanied by a sticky residue.
Ants
Ants don't damage plants directly, but sometimes steal freshly sown seed from garden beds and seed boxes. Ants can also encourage sap-sucking pests like aphids and scale, by protecting them from predators.
Aphids
Aphids are small, sap-sucking insects which can cause a lot of damage to your plants. They can be green, black, red-pink or translucent white and are often found grouped on new shoots and buds.
Share
Share this article on social media