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At present , there are over 200 species ofroot mealybugsacross the United States .
But, What Are Root Mealybugs?
Root mealybugs ( Rhizoecus spp . ) are small , wingless insects around one - tenth of an inch long characterized by a thin ashen or gray wax coating over their bodies . They are slightly larger than fungus gnat .
This alone appearance comes from the waxy coat they secrete when they feed off plants . belittled bugs are wax - free and tint scandalmongering .
radical mealybugs are considered pestis because of their tendency to fee off the plants ’ ascendent system of healthy decorative flora and tree and move as a accelerator for other plant diseases .
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These minor insect pests are found worldwide but more often in position with warmer environment .
Soil mealy bug enjoy living in the root musket ball and potting soil while fertilise in moist , warm climate and are find in :
Succulent plants and African violets are often watered from below through the drain mess .
What Damage Does A Root Mealybug Infestation Cause?
Root mealy bug feed on flora roots of host plants by suck the sap from the tissues through their stylets ( or rima oris ) .
As these serious pests feed , they leave behind honeydew , which can later raise mold on the plant .
In smaller numbers , they do not have a significant burden on the flora ’s health .
However , their ability to lay eggs and multiply at an exponentially flying pace means they can go from being a mild problem to becoming a heavy infestation in no time .
If the settlement of infested plants gets too expectant , the flora are probable to die from rot .
There are a few way to identify a mealy hemipterous insect infestation .
The first sign may be the yellowing and wilt of the leave of absence , as it will look like the plant ’s wellness begins to drop .
The soil around the works is also another indicator . The waxy filaments enshroud the mealy bugs ’ body may start to take on a blue - tinted appearance .
It can be hard to detect an infestation until the industrial plant is heavily infect .
wait for the microbe while the dirt is dry , as watering the domain tends to disperse and make it hard to see .
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How To Control Root Mealybugs
There are several ways to treat soil mealy bug if your plants have been affected .
Natural Pest Management
notation : Years ago , I knew a private succulent cultivator ( Reggie ) in South Florida .
He handle stem mealybug populations on his succulents with hot urine dip . He submerge the roots in live water . Here was his mental process .
For potted plants , Reggie would get rid of the ground mealybug infestation by :
Biological Control Of Root Mealies
Themealybug ruiner ( Cryptolaemus montrouzieri)are small gray beetles often used to control citrus mealybugs ( Planococcus citri ) .
Both adults and larvae feed on mealy bug . The larval stage resembles a mealy bug .
Before liberate these mealy destroyers , DO NOT use any insecticide or pesticide for at least a month before their release .
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Organic Insect Management Options
Neem oil , insecticidal liquid ecstasy , and diatomaceous earthly concern are all constituent option available to control mealybug populations .
As bring up above , diatomaceous earth can be integrate into the soil .
Insecticidal easy lay and Neem petroleum can be used as a drench on some plant mixed bag . Neem drenchworks as a systemic insecticide as well .
H peroxide is used to hold fungus gnats , and it has also been recommended for root mealybugs . But I have not tried it .
Chemical Controls
It can be trickier to look at with rootmealybug ascendence in soilon plants in your garden .
A pesticide is your proficient option in such a scenario .
Some pesticide you’re able to use include Phenothrin , Bifenthrin , Chlorpyrifos , Dichlorvos , and Tetramethrin .
To keep further infestations , take some precautionary measures .
This includes being careful about any new plant you specify to purchase .
Make certain they are free of any clear mark of infections
lave out affect pots with soap and red-hot water to ensure any works repotted does not take in the bugs .
Avoid letting water from an infected plant or infested areas travel to other plants .
Baby root mealy bug can be transported through the water supply and infect other plant life .
If potential , avoid root - adhere plant as they are likely to prepare host colony of root mealy bugs .
