Mealy Bug Control - Austin,Tx
Mealybugs are common household pests if you have house plants. Mealybugs are often found in warm and moist habitats. They feed on the moisture in plants. Mealybugs are covered in a white, waxy, cotton-like material that protects them from excessive heat, and helps keep them from losing moisture. There are two types of mealybugs, citrus mealybugs and ground feeders. Female mealybugs have legs and no wings. Male mealybugs are smaller, gnat-like, and have wings.
Female mealybugs attach themselves to the plant and secrete a powdery wax layer. The powdery wax layer is used for protection while they suck and drink the plant sap and juice. Male mealybugs are short-lived. They do not feed at all since the adult male’s purpose is to fertilize the females. Female citrus mealybugs lay up to 600 small yellow eggs within a protective mass of white, cottony threads. Some female mealybugs do not lay eggs, but instead produce young aphids. After laying eggs or producing aphids, over a period of 5 to 10 days the female mealybug dies. The newly emerged mealybugs search for feeding sites to settle. Male mealybug nymphs settle and spin an elongated, white, waxy cocoon. Female nymphs go through three stages of growth, and are completely mobile throughout their lives.
The citrus mealybug is the most common species of mealybug. Mealybugs can cause serious damage to ferns, cacti, gardenias, papaya, mulberry, sunflowers, and orchids. In recent years, mealy bugs have become invasive pests in new agroecosystems. These species of mealybug remove plant sap from above ground plant parts, especially stem tips and new growth. Their damage results in weakened and stunted plants, yellowing, wilting, and general plant decline. In some cases, the plant actually dies. Citrus mealybugs inject a toxin while feeding, causing plant malformation. Mealybugs excrete honeydew, which results in mold.
The ground mealybugs are another common species. Ground mealybugs are root-feeders. They appear in plants and feed on roots. Ground mealybugs feed on root hairs resulting in yellowing leaves, wilting, plant stunting, and bloom reduction. Ground mealybugs will move to roots when growing conditions are less favorable, but will return to feeding on stems and leaves while plants are actively growing.
Mealybug infestations can be detected by a simple visual inspection. Mealybugs and their eggs look like cotton on plants. Underground infestations are more difficult to detect. Yellowing or wilting leaves and plants may indicate a mealybug presence on the roots. Small white cottony masses around the drainage hole of the pot can also indicate mealybug presence. The only way to confirm their presence is by completely removing the plant and looking at the roots.
Mealybugs are difficult to get rid of since they wedge themselves and hide in stem folds and other tight locations around the plant. Magic Pest and Lawn knows how to efficiently get rid of Mealybug infestations. Our professionals will help you identify and control mealybugs so your plants can grow to their full potential and beauty.
Contact the professional pest control and Mealy Bug experts at Magic Pest and Lawn to help you identify and get rid of Mealy Bugs before they destroy your Austin Garden or Farm.