Concerned you have pests, but aren’t sure what they are? See the links below for actual pictures of the pests in question on BugGuide.net to help you figure it out.
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chocokrinkles
That’s so big
LuckystrikeFTW
You might need to ask in a specific subreddit for bug sightings like /r/whatsthisbug because it could also very well be a mealybug destroyer larvae which would be really beneficial to you.
dusti_dearian
What are you feeding your plants? 😉🤣
StarchildKissteria
Bro couldn’t find the plant
LimpingDolphin
Could be a cryptolaemus montrouzieri larvae (type of ladybug). They mimic mealy bugs. Best way to tell is to gently nudge it and see if it walks considerably fast. Mealy bugs move so slowly it’s barely noticeable. They’d be more likely to just fall if you nudge them.
SmoothD3vil
Holy moly that would make me yelp! 🤣 please update when you find out what it is! May it be a destroyer and feast upon your born and unborn mealies alike to its gluttonous satisfaction! 💪🏼🐞
It’s not a mealy bug. It doesn’t look like a bug at all to me. But I don’t know what it is.
Idkmyname2079048
It’s not a mealy bug. It doesn’t look like a bug at all to me. But I don’t know what it is.
_larsr
This is a larval instar of a Cryptolaemus lady beetle. They are voracious predators of mealybugs and other small soft bodied insects. You are very lucky to have this! Let is be.
PLANTMOM1963
No, it’s not a mealy bug. That big guy actually likes to eat mealy bugs. I can’t remember what it’s called, but I just read about it because my succulents have mealy bugs, and I hate those bugs!
astrofrank117
It reminds me of the white fungus that grows on nopales and that when crush it bleeds purple, nice natural coloring and you just need dish soap water a brush and boom
22 Comments
Eeek! Looking for remedies for pest infestations? Check out the **[Pests, Diseases, and Other Problems wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/pests_and_diseases/)**.
Concerned you have pests, but aren’t sure what they are? See the links below for actual pictures of the pests in question on BugGuide.net to help you figure it out.
**[Aphids](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=aphids&search=Search)** come in either green or black or red/brown. **[Mealybugs](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=mealybug)** are white or gray, and appear fuzzy. **[Scale insects](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=scale+insect)** present as uniform shaped raised bumps, that can generally be picked off without damage to the plant. **[Fungus gnats](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=fungus+gnat&search=Search)** are small black flying insects. On their own, they’re not harmful, but can be in large infestations. **[Thrips](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=thrips)** are very small, and long and skinny. **[Spider mites](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Tetranychidae)** are microscopically small, and are usually present in large numbers and webbings. Don’t mistake red spiders for spider mites, spiders are helpful, and will eat bad pests! **[Flat Mites](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Tenuipalpidae+&search=Search)** are microscopic and cannot be seen with the naked eye. Damage will appear as a burn-like appearance on either the leaf margin or where the leaf connects to the stem; and can be present on the stem as well. Damage examples can be found [linked in our Pest wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/succulents/wiki/pests_and_diseases/#wiki_false_spider_mites.2C_aka_flat_mites).
Harmless bugs are often in soil. For example, **[Springtails](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Springtails&search=Search)** or **[Orobatid Mites](https://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Oribatida&search=Search)** are often in soils and just eat decaying organic matter. They do not hurt living plants.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/succulents) if you have any questions or concerns.*
That’s so big
You might need to ask in a specific subreddit for bug sightings like /r/whatsthisbug because it could also very well be a mealybug destroyer larvae which would be really beneficial to you.
What are you feeding your plants? 😉🤣
Bro couldn’t find the plant
Could be a cryptolaemus montrouzieri larvae (type of ladybug). They mimic mealy bugs. Best way to tell is to gently nudge it and see if it walks considerably fast. Mealy bugs move so slowly it’s barely noticeable. They’d be more likely to just fall if you nudge them.
Holy moly that would make me yelp! 🤣 please update when you find out what it is! May it be a destroyer and feast upon your born and unborn mealies alike to its gluttonous satisfaction! 💪🏼🐞
That’s the biggest mealy bug I’ve ever seen!
It’s huge! Is it a mealy bug destroyer?
Nature is wild
Mealy destroyer possibly. He’s a good guy.
What the….
[Looks like a waxy lady beetle larvae](https://www.google.com/search?q=waxy+lady+larvae&sca_esv=853e0add8aad1e86&udm=2&biw=1250&bih=1130&ei=3P8JaYiFFe6xwt0PtNOBkA4&ved=0ahUKEwiI4_-izdiQAxXumLAFHbRpAOIQ4dUDCBI&uact=5&oq=waxy+lady+larvae&gs_lp=Egtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZyIQd2F4eSBsYWR5IGxhcnZhZUiiH1AAWPwdcAF4AJABAJgBgwGgAf8NqgEENC4xM7gBA8gBAPgBAZgCDKACzAnCAgoQABiABBhDGIoFwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBixA8ICDhAAGIAEGLEDGIMBGIoFwgIFEAAYgATCAg0QABiABBixAxhDGIoFwgIHEAAYgAQYCsICBBAAGB7CAgYQABgFGB7CAgYQABgKGB6YAwCSBwQyLjEwoAemNbIHBDEuMTC4B8cJwgcFMS44LjPIBxg&sclient=gws-wiz-img)
It’s a crypt!
Looks like a Dusky Ladybug Larvae
https://preview.redd.it/4ib6suibx8zf1.jpeg?width=131&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=df6575a769e1b9eee999d86a602401971d11b845
It’s not a mealy bug. It doesn’t look like a bug at all to me. But I don’t know what it is.
It’s not a mealy bug. It doesn’t look like a bug at all to me. But I don’t know what it is.
This is a larval instar of a Cryptolaemus lady beetle. They are voracious predators of mealybugs and other small soft bodied insects. You are very lucky to have this! Let is be.
No, it’s not a mealy bug. That big guy actually likes to eat mealy bugs. I can’t remember what it’s called, but I just read about it because my succulents have mealy bugs, and I hate those bugs!
It reminds me of the white fungus that grows on nopales and that when crush it bleeds purple, nice natural coloring and you just need dish soap water a brush and boom