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.
Paulina says
Can peppermint Castile soap work instead of the baby mild, or is it too harsh? I’m trying to kill an infestation I have that spread to several other plants, and I am trying to spray them often, but I’m scared that the peppermint is doing damage? In addition, I went so far as washing my umbrella plant in the shower, completely reporting it and washing the pot in soapy water, spraying the whole plant in peppermint Castille soap, but I saw baby bugs on it the very next day!! What did I do wrong?? Thank you for your help!
Amy Andrychowicz says
I don’t like to use soaps that have oils in them, because the oils may harm sensitive plants. If you think that’s what’s happening with yours, then I would stop using it and switch to baby mild.
You’re not doing anything wrong, it just takes time and persistence to get rid of mealybugs. They are one of the hardest houseplant bugs to get rid of completely, and it takes lots of patience. The one thing I would not recommend in the future though is repotting infested plants. You should never repot a plant that has a bug infestation, because it will further stress and weaken the plant, and it does nothing to get rid of mealybugs.
Have you tried using neem oil yet? If not, I would recommend adding that to your arsenal. It has a residual effect that will help to eliminate mealybugs faster, and keep them from coming back. Good luck, and hang in there!
Dora says
Hi,
I have some bugs on two bay laurels, one in front yard other in backyard. No other plants seem to be having them. These mealy bugs look like them the most, they are like 2mm snowflakes sitting on topsides of leaves in vein areas and on stems. They suddenly appeared only on these 2 plants, on the parts that are in shadow and most sheltered from wind seems like.
I live in Croatia on the coast, it’s been about 30 degrees celsius the whole month or so, with some rain here and there.
The bug that looks the most like them I found on this site:
Couldn’t find anything when searching for “white lice” or “kebul lice” tho.
Is this a mealy bug? I can send a pic of them I took with my phone.
Thank you,
Dora.
Amy Andrychowicz says
They certainly sound and look like they could be a type of mealybug to me. You may just have a different species where you live than we do here. The organic control methods above should work to get rid of them. Good luck!
Berenice Walker says
I’ve lost plants to those pests, these pests are my nemesis! I hadn’t had a problem with them for years… until now! (I lost a curly Hoya to them.) This year I’m having a problem with them.
I discovered them when I noticed one plant had “fuzz” on it. I took a toothpick & lifted it up. I took one of my magnifying glasses & noticed a little, tiny, beige bug with feelers trying to crawl away! Bingo, mealy bugs.
I did an immediate inspection of all ALL my plants, pre-treated them to prevent a break out on them.
I also washed down my entire plant shelf to keep them from crawling to the next plant!
Besides the alcohol, soaps, neem oil, etc; I added to my arsenal:
1) 2 different magnifying glasses & a jeweler’s loupe (you can get them at hobby stores or look online).
2) a special “isolation”chamber to keep the pests from falling off & crawling away. I live in an apartment & have one good window for light. I removed the plant from my succulent display. I took a black, plastic coffee can lid (you can use what ever size lid that’s appropriate for your plant). I take a piece of aluminum foil to go around the lid & create a wall tall enough (about 3 inches or more) & larger than the circumference of the plant. I also flair the lip outward to be sure of catching them.
Every day, I check,treat the plant, wash the lid & make a new aluminum wall. I just found 3 tiny bugs on the lid this morning!)
3) Since my area is so dry, & dusty I decided to run a humidifier close to my plants. I don’t know how much good it will do, but at least it will keep the dust down.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Shoot, so sorry to hear you found mealybugs on your plants! That’s no fun. Thanks for sharing your method of getting rid of them. Isolating the plant is very smart, and treating it daily will ensure you’ll eventually get rid of the bugs! Good luck, and keep up the good work. 🙂
Chloe says
hey! I’ve been having trouble with my plant, I’m not sure if it is mealybugs or something else. they look like little sesame seeds, and not very much fluffy stuff. would be great if you could help me sort it out.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Humm, sounds like it could either be aphids or houseplant scale to me. But mealybugs don’t always build up the fluffy white stuff until their population gets fairly large. So take a look at the photos above of the individual mealybugs to make sure that’s not what’s on your plant.
Yolanda says
Hi,
The white bugs I have on a tree is like gum when you try and pull it off. They look like they start out as brown scale and when mature they become this white mealy sticky mess! I live in South Africa and just wanted to know if you know this type of bug?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yuck, sorry to hear your plant in infested! There are thousands of different species of scale insects, so it’s hard to say exactly what may be infesting your plants. Mealybugs are a type of soft-bodied scale insect, but other species have hard outer shells. Here’s a post about getting rid of hard-shelled scale insects that may help you out… How To Get Rid Of Scale Insects On Houseplants. No matter the exact species you have, the treatment for controlling them is very similar.
Lou says
I washed and removed all soil from my african violets and put them in glasses full of water – immersing only the roots of course. It’s somehow gratifying to see the bugs crawling out in despair. But how long should I keep the plants in water, in case there are eggs still hatching? 2 weeks? Adult root mealybugs have died, but I don’t know if the violets will get an overdose of water in the long run.
Amy Andrychowicz says
It’s great to hear that you were able to get rid of most of the mealybugs by removing the soil and putting the plant in water. I wouldn’t leave your African violet in water for too long. It can weaken the plant, and may eventually cause root rot. I would repot it into fresh, clean soil and continue to spot-treat the mealybugs daily until they are completely gone.
Charlene says
What if it’s not a house plant, but outside planted in the garden?
Amy Andrychowicz says
You can use the same methods described above to get rid of mealybugs on outdoor plants too. Once you get them under control, then stop using any type of pesticide (like neem oil), and work to attract beneficial predators to your garden. Wasps, ladybugs, and praying mantis are examples are great predatory insects that feed off of pest insects in the garden, like mealybugs. Don’t use any pesticides in your garden, and plant flowers and host plants to attract them. That should take care of the mealybug infestation naturally.
Katy Harrell says
Will neem oil or soap spray harm lizards, monarch eggs/catapillars or any other beneficial or harmless creatures? Does it kill aphids and thrips too?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Neem oil is an organic, naturally occurring pesticide. So yes, since it’s a pesticide, it will harm all types of bugs, good and bad. I stick to using it on my indoor plants only, and not in the garden just for that reason. I’m not sure about lizards though.
Stephine says
Hi Amy, I would love some advice. I have plants all over my home. I first noticed a new plant had mealy bugs. I killed the bug that I saw, wiped down leaves and sprayed the whole plant with homemade neem/soap spray. I also took out the top inch of soil and put in new. Then wiped down the pot with alcohol. I moved the plant to another room away from other plants. I check another plant that was purchased the same day as the other…indeed it also had little fuzzy bits. No actual bug was found. I repeated all the same steps and kept these two plants away from others. Now a week later I have found three other plants with mealybug. These other plants were not even in the same room. One from the kitchen, one from the living room and one from a bedroom. I am beyond upset and confused how they are spreading. I probably have around 40 plants total. I am sick with fear that they will all get infected and I will lose all my plant babies. I need help and guidance. Should I go ahead and spray every plant once a week? Why/how do you think the mealybug has spread room to room? Please help.
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no! So sorry to hear that your plants have mealybugs! If they were all purchased at the same time, then that is likely where the came from (they were on the plants when you bought them). Mealybugs can also be spread from plant to plant on a watering can, pruning tools, or even if they get on your hands or your shirt or something. They are so sneaky that it’s really hard to know for sure. I always be sure to use a different watering can on infested plants, and also wash my hands and disinfect my tools before touching any other plants. It takes several treatments to get rid of mealybugs, so you definitely need to continue with your neem oil spray on a regular basis, even after you don’t see anymore bugs. I will treat my infested plants for 6 months or more to be sure the mealybugs are gone for good. I don’t treat any other plants until I see mealybugs on them. So, if I were you, I would just isolate the infested plants, and then monitor the others closely for several weeks.
Rochel says
I have had two large dracaena plants killed by mealybugs in the last year. I am pretty sure that they were hiding out when I threw away the first one and replaced it with a second one. I watched the leaves and noticed when the mealybugs started showing up on one leaf (about 6 months after purchase), and I wiped them down and started spraying the plan with Bonide soap. Maybe I wasn’t thorough enough but within two or three weeks they have killed the plant! If I get another large dracaena I’m going to wipe down the whole area with alcohol first for sure. I have the pot in a very large basket and will spray that down thoroughly as well.
Would you recommend that as a preventative measure (before signs of the bugs)I could spray the whole plant with alcohol diluted with water, or some other substance on a weekly basis? I don’t really have time to wipe down each one of the individual leaves and was hoping that a good dowsing with a spray bottle with could keep these buggers away. Again, these are 4 foot high plants in the pots are very heavy. I live in a New York City apt, and there isn’t all that much light and actually the plant is right next to a radiator so it’s not an ideal environment. But it is a big empty space and I really do want a tall green plant there.
Maybe I should just go for plastic?? ?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Humm… 2-3 weeks is really fast for a few mealybugs to kill your large dracaenas. I have a feeling something else may have been to blame. I’ve never used Bonide soap myself, but some plants are sensitive to sprays. Did you test it on a leaf before spraying the whole plant? Also, if the radiator gets really hot, then that may have been what killed your plants. Plants don’t always do very well near heat sources. As for getting new plants… if you plan to reuse the pots from the old plants, I would clean them very well then put them outside for a few weeks in the freezing temps to kill the mealybugs. Then, as you say, clean the area where the plants were. However, if I were you, I would wait a few months before bringing home any new plants if you must put them in the same spot as the old ones. That should be enough time for any remaining mealybugs to die off after you’ve cleaned the area well. Also, if you bought your last few plants from the same place (like a big box store), then I recommend going to a different place to buy them this time (a nursery is usually the best source for healthy plants). The mealybugs may be coming in with the plants. Last, I would recommend sticking to organic pesticides, and neem oil is my first choice for getting rid of mealybugs. It would be your best bet as a preventative spray too. Good luck!
Joel O'Connor says
Thank you so much for your help Amy. My conservatory is under attack from mealybugs. The bougainvillaea particularly. The plants are big and impossible to move or quarantine. Can I add a small amount of rubbing alcholol to the soapy/neem mix ?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, sorry to hear you’re having trouble with mealybugs! I don’t see a problem with adding rubbing alcohol to the mix. But… I’m not sure it will make much of a difference. I would just follow the instructions on the package for the neem oil/soap mix. Use a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol to remove the mealybugs from the plant, if you want to help get rid of them faster.
Ms jo willard says
I have written to you before concerning my 5 ft high & wide crown of thorns I have had for 40 yrs. I have been treating it as you instructed for approx 8 months plus now at least. It is outside now & my hummingbirds love & fight over it every year. They even let me know to stay away from it! I’ve finally had enough of the mealybugs with no results. The following procedure takes so long but I took EVERY branch a few days ago & treated every nook & cranny. I sprayed alcohol only in & underneath each area they reside & all over the branches (is it safe to spray leaves with alcohol?) … Rinsed off strongly with the garden hose, holding each one separate…then washed with Castile soap/ neem oil & rinsed off strongly…let dry & sprayed with neem oil. I had also went thru the steps with the soil & around. This is the first time i’ve done all these treatments together. No other bugs EXCEPT MEALYBUGS a couple of days later. It seems to me that possibly they are coming up from the approximately 20 baby shoots??? These shoots are very hard to get underneath their leaves. (I just now thought of mayby using qtips on all of the treatments I am doing) i took about 10 shoots off to try to grow..various sizes…one was 10 inches long with lots of roots! …treated all & then planted the rooted one…watered very lightly with quick start & brought it inside. Am I supposed to use the root powder on the others? I have propagated only once before & they didn’t make it. (Neighbor said it is hard to do that with the wood plants.) I did as you said & are letting branches sit. Plz plz plz…help me…the plant is very sentimental to me. Am I doing something wrong? I do not know who else to ask that is so knowledgable & has dealt with a crown of thorns. It is so much harder to treat because of the size & many parts to it. Is there no way to save it?
Thank you so much for having a question & answer section and being so prompt in answering. Will keep treating it until I hear from your.
I have subscribed.
The book you had mentioned before sounds very interesting & helpful & i will be purchasing.
Amy Andrychowicz says
So sorry to hear that you continue to have problems with mealybugs on your crown of thorns plant! Are you being consistent with the neem oil treatments? Once you go through all that work of cleaning the bugs off the plant, then you have to be consistent and continue to treat it with neem oil regularly. Also, be sure to clean the bottom of the pot, the plant tray (if you’re using one), as well as the inside and outside edges of the pot, and any other crevices where mealybugs can hide. They are notorious for hiding somewhere off the plant, then coming back after you’re done cleaning it. I would also try moving the plant after you clean it really well. Moving the plant to a new location could solve your problem. Mealybugs can hide in cracks and crevices anywhere around the spot where you have the plant. If you keep putting the plant back into the same location after you clean it, that could be the problem.
Jo Willard says
My crown of thorns is moved outside now & easier to treat. No insects except still the mealybugs. How often do I spray with Castile Soap & rinse? Neem oil is sprayed every day?…and when do i start cutting down spraying neem oil & use for how many days in between? And i am supposed to check every day & use alcohol dab if I see any mealybugs but still spray w/neem oil every day? I am confused about how & when to do each step. I have not been spraying neem oil every day. But somehow I have gotten rid of all the curled up leaves!
Amy Andrychowicz says
I use the soapy water spray to kill as many of the mealybugs as I can as the first thing. Then, after rinsing that off, I spray the plant with neem oil right away as my second step. Then I continue treating the plant with neem oil regularly until I don’t see anymore mealybugs. Yes, you can use a alcohol swab to kill the mealybugs you see on the plant every day, that will help to gain control of the infestation faster. As for how often to treat with neem oil, here’s a detailed post that I wrote about it that will answer all of your questions… How To Use Neem Oil Insecticide On Plants.
Claire says
I took my ivy plant into a plant shop and the diagnosis was mealybugs. I bought neem oil, made sure to wipe off all the leaves with the oil and was also told to put a plastic bag around the plant. Will this aid in killing them faster or is it useless?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Oh no, I would definitely not put a plastic bag around the plant! That could end up killing the plant. Just treat it with the neem oil, and be sure to follow the steps above so that you’re sure to get rid of the mealybugs for good!
Terri says
Do you have any recommendation for mealybug infestation on asparagus ferns and Kimberly ferns. I have had these for a
Couple of years and this year there has been an infestation of these two house plants. I recently moved to this apartment. Also, can mealybugs live in the a/c air ducts?
Amy Andrychowicz says
You should be able to follow the instructions in this post for treating the mealybugs on your ferns. Since ferns have so many leaves, nooks and crannies, then using neem oil as I describe will probably be your best bet to get rid of the mealybugs long term. Yes, mealybugs can live for a while without a host plant. So, if the previous tenant had infested plants, then yours certainly could have become infested from those. Though, if you just moved into the apartment, then that’s probably not where they came from. It usually takes a few months for a mealybug population to get large enough to notice them.
Margareth Wlodarski says
Does Neem oil harm lizards?
Amy Andrychowicz says
I’m sorry, but I’m not sure. I would recommend doing some research about that, or asking your veterinarian if you’re worried about a pet.
Clare MacKenzie says
Sorry for doing this in bits and bobs…im in Singapore btw. So i cover the soli with newspapers before i start so anything that falls hopefully won’t get into the soil…if they aren’t in there already…and i throw the papers out before i start another round of spraying…
Clare MacKenzie says
Oh just read the other comments…my plants were on my balcony for ten years nu major probs but recent extreme heat and rain have suddenly resulted in my mealybug problem…dragged them into my common corridor off the balcony outside of my front door and treating them there. Will Neem oil harm any good bugs around? bees?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, even though it’s all natural, neem oil is an insecticide and can kill any type of bug.