WHAT ARE MEALYBUGS?

Mealybugs are soft-bodied, wingless insects found in places with warm climates.

They often appear as white cottony masses on the leaves, stems and fruit of plants.

They feed by inserting long sucking mouth parts, called stylets, into the plants which draw the sap out of the tissue.

Damage is not often significant if pests are fewer in number. However, in higher numbers they can cause leaf yellowing and curling as the plant weakens.

Feeding is usually accompanied by honeydew, which makes the plant sticky and encourages the growth of sooty moulds.