If you see what looks like white fluffy cotton on a houseplant, it’s a sure sign that you have a mealybug infestation. Getting rid of mealybugs on indoor plants can be tough but it IS possible. I came up with a proven 5 step process that’s easy and works every single time!
In this detailed guide, I will show you exactly how to eliminate them using natural treatment methods and prevent them from ever coming back.
These common pests are clever little devils – they like to hide and then come back for the sneak attack. From a distance they don’t look like bugs, so you might not even notice them until your plant is covered. First, let’s talk about what they are.
Three Natural Ways To Remove Mealy Bugs
- Dab With Rubbing Alcohol (70% Isoprophyl Alcohol) – This method works best for a mild outbreak.
- Wash With Insecticidal Soap – This will kill a large number of the adults, nymphs, and eggs.
- Spray With Neem Oil – Spray the entire plant with a neem oil solution.
What Are Mealybugs?
Mealybugs are a type of scale insect that sucks the sap out of leaves and stems leaving a powdery wax substance behind. This can result in stunted or deformed growth, yellowing of the leaves, and leaf drop.
These little white bugs usually cluster on new growth, along the veins of leaves, and at the leaf joints, but you can find them anywhere on a plant.
Mealybug damage is not as quick or as devastating as spider mites on houseplants. But if you don’t do anything, they can eventually kill your plant. Although that usually takes a long time and a very large infestation.
What Do They Look Like?
Mealybugs are tiny white bugs that can sometimes appear brown or cream colored. Their bodies are usually waxy and look like they’re covered in powder.
The first thing most people notice is the white fuzzy egg masses, rather than the insects. So at a glance it’s easy to mistake them for fungus or mildew. Gross!
Mealybugs can’t fly. So if the white bugs you see start flying around when you disturb the plant, those are whiteflies, and here’s how to get rid of them.
Mealybugs Life Cycle
The full life cycle a mealybug is about 7-10 weeks. It takes a week or two for the eggs to hatch into nymphs, and then another 6-9 weeks for the nymphs to mature into adults.
There can be several generations at once, and their life cycles overlap. Meaning that once they get started, their population can grow very quickly.
Since the eggs and nymphs are so small, it takes a while for the population to get large enough to see them. So most people don’t notice them until after their plant is infested.
Related Post: How To Get Rid Of Aphids On Houseplants
Where Do Mealybugs Come From?
Like I said before, these darn things are very sneaky. One day everything is fine, and the next day your indoor plant is covered with sticky white cotton.
This can leave you wondering what causes mealybugs in the first place? As with any other pest, they can come from anywhere. Here are the most common causes…
- Bringing home a new plant that has them.
- Using contaminated potting soil.
- Putting houseplants outside during the summer.
- Bringing fresh flowers, fruits, or vegetables in from your garden, or even the grocery store.
- Ants sometimes bring them to a plant so they can feed off of the sweet honeydew residue that mealybugs excrete.
Read more about where houseplant bugs can come from.
How To Get Rid Of Mealybugs Naturally
When you first spot mealybugs on any of your indoor plants, you should begin treatment immediately to get rid of them as quickly as possible. Here are some things to keep in mind.
- Quarantine time! Move the affected plant(s) to prevent the infestation from spreading to others.
- Inspect it! Check your plant from several angles because these elusive creatures like to hide. Be sure to look under every leaf, around the leaf joints, in any folds, and at the base of the stem.
- Look underneath! Make sure to also check around the edges of the pot, as well as on the bottom, as sometimes you can find them hiding there.
1. Dab With Rubbing Alcohol (Isoprophyl Alcohol)
One way to treat the mealybugs on your houseplants is to touch them with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing Isoprophyl alcohol. Aim for 70% alcohol to start.
The rubbing alcohol will kill the bugs immediately, but it must come in direct contact with them. So this method works well for a small outbreak, but it can be a bit tedious for a large infestation.
2. Wash With Insecticidal Soap
You can buy an organic insecticidal soap, or make your own. My recipe for homemade mealybug spray is 1 tsp of mild liquid soap per 1 liter of water.
If the plant is small enough, bring it to the sink or shower to wash the leaves, and then give it a good rinse. This will kill a large number of the adults, nymphs, and eggs, and help to give you the upper hand.
Insecticidal soaps don’t have any residual effect, so it’s important to continue to spray regularly until there are no more signs of bugs.
3. Spray With Neem Oil
Neem oil is a natural product that is very effective for getting rid of mealybugs on houseplants, and it has a residual effect to keep them away too.
But you still have to be persistent with your treatments, because it can take several applications to completely eliminate an infestation.
It can also take a couple of days before it starts to kick in. So be patient, and continue to reapply it every few weeks until all of the bugs are gone.
Related Post: How To Use Neem Oil On Houseplants
My 5 Step Process For Long-Term Mealybug Control
Mealybugs are tough to get rid of, and they can be super frustrating (I know because I’ve been there many, many times myself).
I’ve had to fight this battle a lot. So over 15 years ago, I came up with my own repeatable and proven process for long-term control that works every time. Below is my simple 5-step process that you can follow to eliminate them FOR GOOD.
Supplies Needed:
- Insecticidal soap or mild liquid soap
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cotton balls or a rag
- Neem oil
- Cotton swabs
Step 1: Wash the plant and pot – Bring the infested plant to a sink or bathtub to thoroughly wash the leaves and stems, then rinse it off. You can use insecticidal soap for this, or make your own by mixing 1 tsp of mild liquid soap with 1 liter of water.
Be sure to also wash the bottom of the pot and the drip tray. Then inspect it from top to bottom and along the soil line to see if there are any hiding mealybugs.
Step 2: Disinfect and inspect the area – Next, wash the area where the infested plant was sitting with soapy water. Then soak a cotton ball or rag in rubbing alcohol and use it to disinfect every nook and cranny.
If there are other houseplants nearby, inspect them thoroughly for any signs of bugs (after washing your hands of course).
Step 3: Spray neem oil – Once the leaves are dry, spray the entire plant with neem oil and move it to a location far away from all of your other indoor plants.
Step 4: Check daily – Inspect the infested plant every day for any signs of mealybugs. If you find any, use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to kill each one.
You should also keep a close eye on any plants that were sitting near the infested one to make sure they didn’t spread. Be sure to wash your hands after touching each plant.
Step 5: Repeat – If you’re still finding mealybugs every day for a week straight, spray the plant again with neem oil. Otherwise treat it every few weeks until you no longer find any mealybugs.
Once you’re sure your plant is bug-free, it’s safe to add it back to your collection.
How To Prevent Mealybugs From EVER Coming Back
Most of the time mealybugs don’t appear to move, but they can crawl around and infest other houseplants in the area. The worst part is that they can live in tiny spaces and crevices for a long time without a host plant.
So just when you think you have conquered the beast, they will come out of hiding and re-infest your indoor plants when you’re not looking.
But don’t worry, there are measures you can take to prevent mealybugs from ever coming back. Here are some tips.
- If one of your plants is plagued by recurring infestations, try removing the top inch of soil. Then wash the inside rim with soapy water or disinfect it with rubbing alcohol, and add fresh potting soil.
- Thoroughly clean the area and any nearby crevices or potential hiding spots. Be sure check under the outside lip edges and the bottoms of both the pot and the tray.
- Once you have the infestation under control, move your plant to a new location to get it away from any mealybugs that might be hiding in the spot where it was sitting before.
- I know it’s tempting, but never repot an infested plant. It’s already under a lot of stress from the bugs, and the added transplant shock could end up killing it.
It’s hard to get rid of all of the mealybugs the first few times you try. Even if you are able to kill all of the adults, the nymphs and eggs are tiny and easy to overlook. It can be frustrating, but it’s worth it to save your favorite houseplants.
Final Tips For Treating Mealybugs On Plants
My best advice to you is be persistent. You can’t just spray a plant once, and expect the mealybugs to disappear. It will take several treatments to get rid of all of them.
It can take a few weeks, or even months to kill the entire population. So be sure to inspect your houseplant daily and kill any new ones that you see right away.
Also, always use organic products and natural methods. I don’t recommend using synthetic pesticides, because mealybugs are resistant or can build up a resistance to these chemicals.
So skip the toxic stuff and use the safer techniques that I’ve listed below. Learn more about natural houseplant pest control methods and remedies here.
Keep in mind that some types of soaps and sprays, even organic ones, can damage sensitive plants. So always test the solution on a few leaves before spraying the entire thing.
Consider Grabbing My Houseplant Pest Control Ebook!
If you are tired of constantly battling bugs on your indoor plants, then my Houseplant Pest Control eBook is for you. It will help you identify the bugs that are infesting your plants, show you exactly how to get rid of them, AND arm you with the tools you need to keep those nasty pests away FOR GOOD! Download your copy today
More About Houseplant Pest Control
- How To Get Rid Of Houseplant Bugs Naturally
- How To Debug Plants Before Bringing Them Indoors
- How To Get Rid Of Fungus Gnats In Houseplant Soil
- How To Get Rid Of Thrips On Indoor Plants
- How To Get Rid Of Scale Insects On Houseplants
How do you get rid of mealybugs on houseplants? Share your treatment tips in the comments below.
Clare MacKenzie says
Hi Amy thanks for your reply and suggestions…er in my impatience and utter revulsion of those mbs..urgh…i then made up a soapy, olive oil, water mixture and sprayed both plants (been told they’re happiness plants..who knew) every other day and using gloves wiped the white stuff off as much as i could including hmm knocking off nodes on branches. Anyway one plant seems to be responding well (fingers, toes and eyes crossed) but the other seems to be getting worse!
So i am going to try your suggestion of washing down both plants first and then the neem oil…do i have to dilute it and if so what ratio and how often do i spray them? Thanks again for your input.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Hi Clare, you’re welcome, glad I could help. I definitely would not recommend using olive oil, or any other type of cooking oil on any of your houseplants. Also, be sure the soap you’re using is a mild soap, and not one that contains detergents or degreasers – those types of soaps can end up killing sensitive plants. Here’s the liquid soap I use and recommend. As for the neem oil, it depends on which type you buy. If you buy the stuff I recommended, then yes, you will need to dilute it. Here’s a post I wrote all about neem oil, including how to use it, and my homemade neem oil spray recipe… How To Use Neem Oil On Plants
Clare MacKenzie says
Hi sadly i am down to my last two houseplants which were fine for ten years on my balcony with odd garden centre bug spray but in last three weeks hug infestation of mealybugs…have used malathion (stopped cos thought i was killing myself despite protective clothes and mask) then rubbing alcohol spray…but nothing seems to work. I did prune and physically wearing gloves wipe off as much of the mealybugs (ugh) as possible but its not working!! Will my plant survive if i completely clip off all nodes and leaves so as to starve the buggers out? Appreciate any advice or help..would really like to give it one last shot before i have to make a decision on whether to destroy the plants before they infect neighbour’s plants. Yes, i have quarantined them from their usual spot.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, sorry to hear you’re having so much trouble with mealybugs! That is no fun. I highly recommend using neem oil (a natural insecticide) to get rid of mealybugs. It takes some time to work, but it’s the best remedy for getting rid of them for good. Wash the plants with mild soap and water to kill most of the mealybugs, and give it a good rinse before you start treating the plant with neem oil. That will give you the upper hand, and faster results. Definitely don’t trim all the leaves from your plants, that will likely kill the plants. Good luck!
Katie L. says
I just looked up the life cycle of mealybugs and all of them showed the adult males with wings. I could probably look this up as well but I thought it might be helpful for others to know as well. Do the wings on the males allow them to fly? I’m guessing that if so, this would allow a single male to do his part with several females in their natural outdoor habitat. I’ve been battling a Japanese infestation for the last couple of years and I swear all they do is eat and breed. I’ve reduced their numbers significantly in just one year through natural methods but since all the flowers I love to plant attract them I fear it may be a lifelong battle. I recently found out that they love to feast on four o’clocks which proves to be a deadly treat for Japanese Beetles so I’ve sowed several seedlings this year and plan to border my yard with them wherever possible. I joke about how I feel like I’m operating a Japanese Beetle bordello that includes meals but it really kinda feels that way, lol.
Anyway, thanks for the tips on the mealybugs. My mom bought me a lucky bamboo plant recently and silly me didn’t isolate it as one should when introducing a new plant into the home. I’m pretty sure I caught them in time as the new plant was near my seedlings but I’m still keeping a very close eye on them.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, adult male mealybugs do have wings and can fly, but it’s the females that feed on the plants and cause all of the damage. Yuck! It is super frustrating how fast the bad bugs reproduce, and sometimes it feels like their only mission in life is to destroy our plants – I totally feel your pain! Sorry to hear that your new plant has mealybugs, that’s so frustrating! I sure hope you caught it in time.
Connie Zerman says
Hi Amy, I live in South Africa in an area where humidity can get quite high. The humidity I can handle (sometimes) but the damn mealy bugs I cannot handle. Every morning I check and kill quite a few and in the evenings same thing. I have gone through two lots of the outdoor plants – same plant but different colour (purple and white). I am just a very general gardener and go for flowers and colour. My roses (so far) have been absolutely beautiful and have caused no problem (thumbs crossed!) But the bushy flowers (purple and white) are troublesome yet are beautiful. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of the bushy plants as I am a general gardener!! It would be impossible to rinse them as the pot is huge and so are the plants ….. if I spray with dishwashing liquid mixed with water without rinsing the bush, will this kill my plant?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh boy, an outdoor plant that’s infested with mealybugs, now that’s something I have never had to deal with. So sorry to hear about your struggle. If the infested plants are flowering and attracting butterflies and bees, then you definitely don’t want to use neem oil or any other insecticide on them. You can definitely wash the leaves regularly with soapy water, but I would rinse them well afterwards. The soap could damage the leaves, especially when the plants are sitting in the sun. Nature usually does a good job of controlling pest infestations outdoors as long as you have a healthy balance of predatory insects around. I would recommend planting other flowers that attract wasps, ladybugs, praying manatees and other beneficial insects that feed on pests like mealybugs. I’m not familiar with the types of insects you have in South Africa, but I would definitely recommend doing some research and see what you can find. Good luck!
Jo A Willard says
What can I do when my Crown of Thorns is so heavy to carry &to tip over to disinfect?(5Ft high by 2ft high). Has about 25 new shoots that are hard to reach. Spraying only the crooks & areas with 50% alcohol nstead of using swap ok? I am waiting for my neem oil & soap being shipped. I do take it out on my deck in summer for the hummingbirds. Last summer I did lay it on it’s side, sprayed all over and replanted with just a little harm on some branches. Now even harder to lift in summer & fall. I have done so much research & still cannot find any answers to my questions. HELP! I do not want to lose this important plant to me. Thx for any help. Jo
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear you beautiful crown of thorns is infested with mealybugs! It’s tough when large plants become infested. You could try the alcohol, but hopefully it won’t take long for your neem oil to arrive. It might take some time, but the neem oil should get rid of the mealybugs as long as you’re persistent. Make sure to thoroughly clean the area where the plant sits (more than once), and check the pot and plant tray like I mention above, and wash those too. Also spray the plant with neem oil before brining it back indoors in the fall to help keep them away.
Patrick Bowen says
I have a large Cacti collection. In the Winter, I have to bring all of the plants indoors.
Unfortunately, mealbugs have attacked all of my cacti. Some worse than others, but I am going
to start with spraying the cacti with alcohol, and continue with this method of treatment for
a few days. If it doesn’t work, I will move on to the next method of treatment you have discussed. Thank You.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, so sorry to hear about your mealybug infestation! Next time you bring your plants indoors for the winter, you may want to try my method of debugging plants before bringing them indoors (although be careful with cactus plants, and make sure the soil dries out completely before watering them again). Also, neem oil works wonderful as a natural pesticide, and you can also use it to spray your plants before bringing them indoors in the fall. Good luck!!
Lisa says
How long would mealybugs and their eggs live in dry soil with no plants present?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I don’t know for sure how long mealybugs will live without a host plant. But at least a couple of months. When I have a plant that’s been infested with mealybugs, I wait at least 6 months before putting any plant in that spot again just to be sure. They are sneaky little buggers.
Robin says
I’ve treated my plants and removed them from the room in which there was an infestation. How long before I can return my plants back into that room?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I keep my plants quarantined for at least two months, and many times longer, and I inspect them regularity for signs of reinfestation. If they remain clean then I will move them back, but continue to watch them like a hawk. Mealybugs can live a long time without a host plant, I’ve read anywhere from 45-60 days. So, if they are hiding somewhere, they will just infest the plant again as soon as you put it back in the same spot. If you’re using neem oil for mealybugs, then you won’t have to worry as much since it works to repel them.
Reshma says
2nd week on safer soap spray on my phal orchids. I hope they all die 🙁
Reshma says
The mealy bugs that is
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome! I hope all of those darn mealybugs die too!
Michael says
Thanks Amy. After reading everyone’s problem here now I know I am not the only one affected by mealybugs. It is very interesting and infomative. Thank you.
Adea Sanders says
You helped me so much before and I’m sure you can again. My old lady cactus has small white cottonballs between the needles and I don’t know if they are mealybugs or part of the plant. I looked up photos of the cactus and some seem to have cotton while others don’t, so anyway I sprayed it with some alcohol and tested to see if I could remove the cotton, which I could for the most part but I didn’t finish for fear that it may be growth on the plant. My other plants don’t show signs of mealybugs yet but if these are the pests then your guidance would be helpful!! Should I remove all the cotton for safety, or is it part of my cactus? Thank you for your time!!
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh wow, glad to hear that I’ve helped you so much in the past. Awesome! 🙂 It’s totally normal for the old lady cactus to have white furry hairs over it, that’s part of it’s charm. There are a few ways to tell if it’s mealybugs, or just the normal hairs on the plant. When you squish the mealybugs, you can see a tiny bit of pink/red on the cotton swab. Also, mealybugs would be sticky. When they feed, they produce a sticky residue which will make them feel a bit sticky when you clean them off. You’ll sometimes also notice a sticky residue on and around the pot. You can also take a magnifying glass and get a closer look at the plant. If there are mealybugs present, you’ll be able to see individual bugs in there. Fingers crossed that it’s not mealybugs!!
Andrew says
Hi,
I also had mealybugs in my mango fruits and managed it successfully by applying neem oil every 4-5 days.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Awesome! So glad to hear the neem oil worked for you.
Marlie Graves says
Lots of good advice and products and mixtures of stuff — but leaving out the most important part. You MUST spray whatever you decide to use WEEKLY FOR FOUR WEEKS. If you spray once, wash, clean off all the bugs, then don’t treat again until you see new bugs, you have to start over. The trick is to kill the baby bugs BEFORE you can see them, so they can’t lay eggs to start the cycle over again.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Thanks for your additional tips!
Carisa Herzberg says
Need oil, rubbing alcohol, and soapy water are not killing meelybugs on my indoor Gardenia tree. I have tried everything it’s big and heavy to move into the shower. HELP I can’t kill these things.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Sorry to hear about your mealybug infestation, it’s so frustrating! Mealybugs are one of the most difficult pests to get rid of. You have to be diligent and patient. It can take several months to get rid of mealybugs. Mealybugs are good hiders, so even if you think you’ve gotten rid of them, they come right back. Some of their favorite hiding spots are under the edges of pots and trays, on the bottom of pots, in drainage holes, at the base of the plant just under the soil, around the edge of the soil. So make sure to inspect these areas for signs of mealybugs. They can even leave the plant all together and hide in window ledges, cracks and crevices. They are not nice! So, you have to keep checking your plant for signs of infestation even after you think you got them all killed. Good luck with your fight!
Jo A Willard says
I also have a HUGE plant too heavy to carry. Crown of Thorns 5′ x 3′. I do take it outside during the summer for the hummingbirds. Had just repotted it last spring. Could not figure out what type of infestation it had. Called a nursery & sent a pic & was told it had mealybugs. Started using alcohol. It still looked great all winter. Finally found this website recently which is the most informative & purchased the neem oil & soap. I did drag it over to the kitchen door & tilted it (so it wouldn’t get too much water) with one hand & then sprayed it with the garden hose before treating it the first time with neem oil. I misunderstood & mixed the 2 products together. Just read this article again. So I am supposed to have separate sprayer for the soap, then rinse it off & then use neem oil right after? How often & am I able to just use water bottle to spray it off with a strong stream? When taking it outside now, it will be a lot easier for me. Is it okay to take it outside this year?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, so sorry to hear your crown of thorns has mealybugs, bummer! If you’re using concentrated neem oil like I mentioned here, you would mix the soap and neem oil together into the same spray bottle to make your own homemade neem oil spray. You don’t need to rinse the neem oil off the plant. That is only if you were to wash the plant with soap, then you would rinse the soap off. Here’s a detailed post about how to use neem oil insecticide, with more detailed instructions along with my neem oil spray recipe.
Jo Willard says
You are so awesome with responding to us quickly & realize we want to solve our problems right away. And you have such knowledge? I have already commented twice earlier & apologize for more questions. again. I am a little confused about one of the procedures. Am I supposed to have a separate spray bottle of the Dr bronner’s soap to wash it & down followed with a strong stream of water to rinse. Then use the mixture of Neem oil & the soap & spray? Then check every day with alcohol? Can you imagine how long it takes me for this type of plant……approximately 2 hrs daily. Is it ok to take my Crown of Thorns outside now for the hummingbirds? It is so much easier to kill the mealybugs. Or would I wind up with other aphids? It even doesn’t have a big infestation according to the pics I have seen. Very small & hard to see webs on the branches although I do see them underneath flowers on top of the branches & right underneath. I’ve had
this plant for 30+ yrs with never a problem until I repotted last spring..I didn’t know potting soil could be contaminated Am I able to spray the potting soil/manure/compost mix I made ready to use to transplant with? All of my other plants throughout the house are fine.
One more question I have been stumped with. Nobody seems to know & I have researched for several years. I have noticed teeny tiny specks on my windowsills. I thought it was seed or pollen. But can’t see any on the lleaves or long branches. Unfortunately since using the neem oil & soap, the leaves for the 1st time are not pretty. AND the mealybugs who can fly.get mad at me while spraying & swarm like wasps !!!
Thank you so much I finally have answers.
Amy Andrychowicz says
If you plan to use the neem oil spray, then you can just use that. You don’t have to go through any extra steps of washing the plant if you don’t want to. That is just a step you can take to help get rid of the mealybugs faster, by washing as many of them off as you can. But the neem oil spray will do it’s job eventually. Yes, you can take the plant outside to make it easier to get rid of the mealybugs. You certainly could end up with other bugs on the plant when you bring it outside, but the neem oil would kill the aphids too. Some mealybugs can fly… but they won’t swarm like you describe. Are you sure you don’t have another pest, like whiteflies or fungus gnats that are flying around when you spray? The black specks you’re describing make me think of fungus gnats.
Tami Tovar says
2 weeks dry spell. 1 week ants on kitchen windowsill, 1 week later-Okinawan potted spinach outside is fuzzy white! SO thankful for advice-especially pot cleaning! They were everywhere. And the leaves so curled from the bugs that q-tips were not enough. I took the stems And dipped them one by one upside down into the jar of alcohol and swished. Then spray washed the whole plant roots and all outside then repotted in 1/2 starbucks coffee grinds and fresh dirt.(!)(!) gave a diatomaceous earth ring around the perimeter and am making neem/soap spray now. So far the plant looks really good.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You’re welcome. Yuck, sorry to hear that your plant was infested with mealybugs. Sounds like you have a really good start at getting rid of them. Good luck!
carey says
I mostly gave up on natural sprays; now I just but lady bugs a few times a year on Amazon.
Amy Andrychowicz says
You buy the ladybugs for your houseplants inside the house? I’ve heard of others doing that. My cats would love it! LOL!
Carisa Herzberg says
Lady bugs? Did it work? Are they a special kind, because we have a lot of them right out my doors and windows here in Michigan. I need to try, nothing else has worked. Neem oil and soapy water and alcohol have not worked. It’s a big Gardenia tree, I just transplanted in a big heavy pot, I wonder if they were in the potting soil I bought? Well sorry I’m just so sick of these nasty little insects, and I really like this tree. I hope the neem oil doesn’t hurt the lady bugs because I’m off to catch some ladybugs.
Amy Andrychowicz says
The bugs that are hanging around your doors and windows aren’t ladybugs, they are Asian lady beetles. Ladybugs don’t swarm like that. 🙂 Asian lady beetles eat pest insects too, but they are an invasive species (and be careful, because they can bite too – though it’s not too painful). Neem oil is a natural organic pesticide, but it should be treated like any other pesticide. So yes, it will likely also kill the Asian lady beetles (as would soapy water spray if it’s used directly on the beetles).
Adrienne says
Thank you for pointing that out. There are also invasive praying mantises that pest management companies sell and they end up wiping out natve mantids. When you use insect control you need to make sure youre not being sold these invasive species.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, another great point!
Mary Hughes says
I bought ladybugs once, and when I released them in my garden they all flew away. Never saw them again. ?
Michell says
How much neem oil? Do you add it to water and spray on the plant or add it to the soap solution?
Amy Andrychowicz says
It depends on the type of neem oil you get. Some products come ready-to-use. There should be instructions for use on the package.
David eacock says
Thanks for the advice on Mealy Bugs. However, where does the mother Mealy bug come from to assault the plant? We have a lot of Hibiscus bushes and it seems that [they] assault all the bushes at the same time.
Would it be the case to spray early; say Mid May, to catch them out?
David
Amy Andrychowicz says
Haha, who knows where the mother comes from. That sounds like a chicken and egg question. 😉 Yes, it does seem like they appear all at once, but they are probably there all the time. You just don’t notice them until the plant is infested. I would definitely recommend spraying the plant early, and keep up on it a few times over the summer to see if you can get rid of the mealybugs.