Mealybug

Found globally in gardens, greenhouses, and on indoor houseplants; they typically live in crevices of stems, under leaves, and on fruit surfaces.

Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap (phloem), weakening the host plant.

Slow-moving insects that secrete a white, waxy, cotton-like substance for protection against moisture loss and predators. They reproduce rapidly in warm environments.

Risks: Major agricultural and horticultural pests that cause leaf yellowing, stunted growth, and death of plants; they also excrete honeydew which promotes the growth of sooty mold. Benefits: None to humans or ecosystems, though they are a food source for predatory insects like ladybugs.