How to Get Rid of Mealybugs in Your Home, Garden, or Greenhouse

You carefully curated your garden, and now mealybugs are helping themselves to your plants. How do you get rid of these ultra-sneaky, sap-sucking bugs? If you and your greenery have been victimized by the sap-starved ravaging of mealybugs, you can fight back. Learn various treatments that’ll help you get rid of mealybugs once and for all. 

What Are Mealybugs?

Mealybugs are itty-bitty sap-sucking insects in the Pseudococcidae family that target a variety of indoor and outdoor ornamental plants and citrus trees. The name “mealybug” comes from the cornmeal-like white sticky powder that covers their bodies. They’re also characterized by their sweet, sticky excretion—called honeydew—that attracts ants and can cause black sooty mold.

Adult female mealybugs attach themselves in clusters on the underside of plants, typically along the veins of the leaves. Males are active fliers, while the slow-moving females and young “crawlers” stay on plants and feed. 

Plants that are most susceptible to mealybugs include soft-stemmed tropical plants and succulents, such as:

• Orchids

• African violets

• Coleus

• Begonias

• Cactus

• Fuchsia

• Dracaena

• Amaryllis

Symptoms of Mealybugs on Plants

Spotting mealybugs on plants can be tricky due to their small size and tendency to hang out on the undersides of leaves and petals. Females are egg-shaped and usually about 0.4 inches long. Adult males are tiny and gnat-like flying insects that are rarely seen near the feeding site.

Here are the main symptoms of mealybugs on your plants:

• Fluffy, cotton-like clusters of tiny bugs

• Waxy white reside along plant stems

• Yellowed or deformed leaves

• Reduced blooming

• Stunted plant growth

• Sticky “honeydew” excretions that are typically accompanied by ants and black sooty mold  

How to Get Rid of Mealybugs

Mealybugs can quickly and discreetly do a number on your plants if left alone. Once you see them, immediately quarantine the affected plants so they won’t have a chance to spread.

The good news is that there are a number of organic pest control methods that are highly effective at getting rid of mealybugs on plants, as well as a few pesticides. Choose whichever treatment works for you and you’ll choke out the mealybugs before they can do any further damage.

Dish Soap/Insecticidal Soap 

Insecticidal soap, or a water/dish soap solution in a spray bottle, can get rid of mealybugs by suffocating them. Simply spray a generous amount all over the plant and let it marinate for four to six hours. Follow this with a gentle rinse from your sink or hose to remove the bugs and leftover soap. 

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol (70% Isopropyl alcohol) is a highly effective natural mealybug killer. Mix a diluted solution of 1 part alcohol to 3 parts water in a spray bottle, then spray down the entire plant. You can also add a squirt of dish soap to this mixture for maximum effectiveness. After four to six hours, rinse it off gently with your sink or hose.   

Pesticides

The United States Environmental Protection Agency warns against the use of insecticides, citing harmful ecological effects such as catastrophic insect drifts and reduced biological diversity. There are also numerous other side effects of using pesticides, such as the poisonous effects they can have on humans, pets, and wildlife by affecting the nervous system, irritating skin and eyes, and more. 

Chemical insecticides may not be an effective mealybug treatment due to the waxy coating on their bodies. If you do choose to go the pesticide route, look for poisons containing pyrethroids like permethrin, cyfluthrin, or bifenthrin. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for treating your plants. 

Natural Predators

You can get rid of mealybugs on your outdoor plants by inviting beneficial insects to your garden. Naturally occurring predators of mealybugs include ladybugs, brown and green lacewings, spiders, and minute pirate bugs. 

Tall plants and trellises leave lots of room for spiders to build their homes, while these delicious, fragrant plants can attract your insect allies:

• Cosmos

• Marigold

• Fennel

• Goldenrod

• Butterfly weed

• Geranium

• Dill

• Spearmint

Preventing Mealybugs on Your Plants

Once you’ve gotten rid of those ravenous, fluffy little monsters, upkeep is just as important to prevent them from coming back. 

Here are the best ways to keep mealybugs off your plants:

• Examine your plants: Keep a regular lookout for mealybug signs and symptoms. Physically remove any bugs you see on your plants before they can take over.

• Swab leaves weekly with rubbing alcohol: Use a cotton swab soaked in 70% isopropyl alcohol to remove individual insects from potted plants. 

• Rinse off plant foliage: For hardy plants that can withstand the pressure, hit them weekly with a stiff blast from your hose to remove any insects.

• Wipe plant foliage with neem oil: Apply neem oil (oil derived from the neem tree)  every two weeks to repel mealybugs and affect their feeding capabilities.

• Feed your plants less often: Reduce fertilization practices to help lower nitrogen levels, as high nitrogen content attracts the mealybugs.

• Inspect new plants for mealybugs: Check new plants for the white, fuzzy insects before adding them to your collection (especially in a greenhouse). 

If you continue to have issues, contact a local exterminator for help. 

DIY vs. Hire a Pro

If mealybugs or other pests are relentlessly plaguing your plants, a pro might be able to help. A professional pest control service costs $200 to $600 on average, but smaller problems can go for as little as $50. Get in touch with a local lawn pest control service to learn more about treatment options.

Additional Questions

What causes mealybugs on plants?

Mealybugs frequently hitch a ride on the plants you bring home, so it’s extremely important to inspect every new addition. They’re also attracted to moisture and high nitrogen levels in plants. Avoid overwatering and use fertilizer sparingly if you have repeat mealybug offenders.

Do mealybugs eat leaves?

Mealybugs don’t munch on the leaves themselves. Instead, they prefer to suck the sap found in stems, roots, fruits, and leaves.

Can hand sanitizer kill mealybugs?

Hand sanitizers aren't ideal for mealybug treatment. Hand sanitizers typically contain ethanol as an active ingredient, and this can harm your plants. 70% isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) is gentle on plants yet highly effective on mealybugs, so it’s the far superior choice.