Rid Of Mealybugs in your plants

 How To Get Rid Of Mealybugs

Mealybugs are universal pests of ornamental plants grown indoors (greenhouses) and outdoors (scape environments and conservatories). Both ornamentals grown in greenhouses and fields are commonly attacked by moths. Mealybugs eat a wide range of plants. Mealybugs are difficult to manage with pesticides and the range of host plants depends on the specific Milipux species. Mealybugs insert their needle-like mouth areas into host plants and suck the sap, primarily phloem or mesophyll or both.

When feeding, the moth expels a sweet sticky liquid called honey. It acts as a growing medium for black mouse fungi, which then darken the affected plant parts due to the mouse mold growing in the honeycomb. Ants can also eat honey. They can inject a toxin into the plant while feeding. It can cause yellowing of the leaves, stunting and wilting of the plant, and shedding of buds and leaves of the plant. Mealybugs are also capable of transmitting viral diseases.

Mealybugs life cycle

Adult female moths are smooth-bodied, oval, white, wingless, about 1/8 inch long with full growth, and crawl from one host to another. The males are usually small, mosquito-like insects with two wings and long "tails" wax. Most Mealybugs species reproduce sexually. The typical female Mealybugs life cycle consists of five developmental stages: one egg, three nymphs or crawler stages, and an adult. They lay their eggs in a wax cover or keep them in their breeding path until they hatch. Mealybugs males have six developmental stages: egg, two nymphal instars, two pupa-like instars (prepupa and pupa)) and adult.

Adult females lay eggs beneath the body cavity before dying. Long-tailed female moths do not have to mate to breed but they give birth to living offspring. After frying the eggs in crawlers, they actively roam around looking for places to settle and feed. These insects often enter plant fissures and are found at the base of stems or petioles of plants with long petioles. The crawlers are yellow-orange, flattened, oval, and not covered with wax, turning white after each subsequent melting.

When they mature, some species are covered with white fluffy wax as soon as the crawlers settle, and the moths progress to several developmental stages before becoming adults. Within a few weeks, the nymphs mature into adults. Male moths eventually develop into winged individuals, mate with females and die 2 to 3 days later. Females continue to grow and die after laying eggs. The eggs are preserved under the body of the dead female until they hatch. A millennial female is capable of reproducing 200 to 600 eggs in a fluffy white wax called ovisac. Some mealybug species do not lay eggs but give birth to living young.

Mealybugs can withstand temperatures of up to 10 C and soils up to 0 C. Nymphs live in the root zone below ground and during the harsh winter months. As the temperature begins to rise, moths emerge from the soil and colonize the plants. They breed in warmer climates throughout the year. Because Milebox has a wide host range, it also offers the ability to survive for a significant period of time on continuous crop and non-crop hosts. Nymphs can live up to 6 days without a host plant.

Mealybugs control methods

Cultural practices can be used to control pests such as weed removal, proper fertilization, and removal of old plant material. Favorable temperature conditions and plant growth may increase the number of mildew. Plants that receive high concentrations of nitrogen-based fertilizers are more susceptible to pests if they are watered frequently, and waterlogged plants can also be more susceptible to pests.

If plant-eating insects get high concentrations of nitrogen-based fertilizers, they may lay more eggs than usual. It is important to immediately remove heavily affected plants from your field, as those that have been around for many years will increase the number of moths. If possible, a strong or high-pressure water spray should be applied regularly to all living conditions (eggs, crawlers).S and adults) are useful for quick removal or disposal.

It is important to manage the number of ants because ants will protect the moths from natural enemies. Ants benefit from moths, including the removal of nectar and the construction of shelters. In the presence of ants, moths cause more plant damage by consuming more plant sap. There are no commercially available parasites for the long-tailed moth. It is important to contact your biological control provider for more information on using natural enemies to control pests.

In situations where a large number of plants are affected, treat the plants using the recommended pesticides. To kill freshly hatched larvae, treatments should be done two or more times a week.

Systematic pesticides move throughout plant parts so they can also be used to protect plants from the attack of moths. Applications should start at the beginning of the crop cycle or before introducing plants to your field. Proper pesticides can be used as a granule or as a growing medium moisturizer. It is important to avoid over-watering the plants so the roots will absorb the active ingredient. Formal insecticides may be less effective on powdery mildew than aphids or whiteflies because Milibux does not ingest dangerous concentrations of the active ingredient because they feed on mesophyll tissues or plant stems.