Infestations, mealybugs

What to do Cut out and burn severely infested shoots and branches. Wash out inaccessible colonies with a powerful jet of water or remove with a paintbrush as appropriate. Repeat inspection and removal of mealybugs two or three times at twice-weekly intervals. 

Symptoms Black or brown sootlike deposits on upper leaf surfaces and other plant parts. Plants may also be infested with sap-feeding pests such as aphids, whiteflies, scale, or mealybugs. 

Control small infestations by spraying them off the plant with water. Insecticidal soap will also control mealybugs be sure to cover the plant thoroughly. 

Leaves with dark, sooty blotches. Cause Sooty mold. This fungus lives on the honey-dew excreted by aphids, mealybugs, and scales. Treat the plant for the insect infestation. Then clean the foliage with warm soapy water and rinse. See Leaves and Stems with white cottony patches, Leaves pale and discolored tiny brown bumps on undersides and stems." and Leaves crinkled or curled with a sticky coating on undersides above for information on controlling these insects. 

Rub or scrape infestations of scale or mealybugs from plants, or swab them with cotton soaked in alcohol or liquid dish soap. 

Mealybug destroyer, olso called Australian lady beetle C ptotaemus montrouzieri 0 Mealybugs indoors and in citrus orchards. Release 2-5 beetles per infested plant in greenhouses, 1 or 2 times per year for infested house-plants, confine 10-20 beetles to each plant for 4-6 weeks in citrus and grapes, release 250-500 per Vi acre. Used for decades in citrus groves reliable in summer slow indoors in winter. 

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