I've had mealybugs on this BoP since I got it in August last year. For the last 8-9 months I have done everything I can think of – washing in the shower, insecticidal soap, rubbing alcohol, I even repotted it with fresh soil! But they're still here! I'm all out of ideas. Do I just give up and accept the mealybugs are permanent residents of my BoP?
by BeccaroniAndCheese
7 Comments
Might they be coming from other plants nearby?
If you’re open to new ideas, you could try predatory bugs.
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri is one that specializes in eating mealies. It’s part of the lady bug family and is very small. You can get them online. They’ll stick around till the mealies are gone then die off themselves since it’s pretty much all they eat.
How often are you applying remedies? The adults are easy to get, but the eggs have extra protection & aren’t usually affected. They hatch over a few weeks, so we reapply the remedy (i like insecticidal soap) usually every 3 days for several weeks. This way you can get the hatchlings before they lay new eggs and wipe them out
If you wait until you see more adult bugs then its likely too late, new eggs have been laid and you’re starting over.
[this is worth a shot](https://youtu.be/ej-NJjEJJ6U?si=-caLL6qZBN_4fBkG)
The thing about mealies is that they’re super easy to kill with just about anything but they love to hide in nooks and crannies
I’ve had good success with rubbing alcohol against them but you really gotta pull on petioles a little to get in the sheathes
Treating my marantas was a bit of a nightmare but once I got determined to spray EVERYWHERE I was able to get rid of them. Yes this included unspooling every single developing leaf that was big enough and forcefully spraying down alcohol into the ones that weren’t 😭
Every time someone says they’ve been fighting a pest for a year I get sad. I just started a battle with spider mites and I’m a week in and over it.
Is there any way you can access systemics? Bonide granules in the US, Edialux Conserve Garden in the EU/Europe in general (delivers to non-EU countries as far as my experience goes). Basically you need spinosad or imidacloprid as an active agent.
If you’re against systemics (which I get) or there’s a risk of pets munching on the plant (NO systemics!!!), spraying daily with 70% rubbing alcohol in all the nooks and crannies is your best bet… Make sure the plant isn’t in full sun until the alcohol as evaporated if you go this route.
Good luck, truly!!