After a littler AI assistance I found that these things that look like pebbles are mealybugs… I used a qtip with some isopropyl alcohol to dab them off and it worked like a charm.
There are so many and there is no way I will get them all without distorting the plant. Does anyone have a long term method?
Thanks in advance!
by hockpunk426
6 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/)**. You will find varying treatment options, which may include Isopropyl Alcohol, Horticultural Oil, Horticultural Soap, Pesticides/Systemics, or a combination of said treatments.
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.
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Here is what I did previously that worked:
1. Quarantine this plant from others as those bugs spread very easily.
2. In addition to using the alcohol on a q-tip, I would occasionally use a very tiny spray bottle to mist the plant with alcohol, but I would be careful with this as it can easily damage your plant if you do too much or too often.
3. I also treated with Captain Jacks Dead bug brew and used bonide systemic insecticide.
Now, if all of these is required I’m not sure, but this is what worked for me in the past. Regardless of what you use these aholes take forever to completely go away so brace yourself.
Yes, the previous posts have good advice. Stock up on these items and prepare for war, mealybugs are a formidable enemy and will JUST KEEP COMING BACK sometimes no matter how much you may think you have polished them off. Seriously, if you have a major infestation you may find that there are plants you can’t save. Definitely quarantine any plant that you even suspect of having mealybugs, don’t take any chances. I’m still psychologically affected by an outbreak I had in 1996 which killed over 150 of my plants before I managed to contain it.
Soil drench with dinotefuran and it’ll wipe them right out.
Oh gawd, I thought you were pointing at it with a shriveled gnarly old lady finger.
That’s a really clear photo of the little fuckers. I wish you luck.