Bug Identifier
Mealybug
Community identification

Mealybug

Pseudococcidae

Order & Family
Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae
Size
1 to 4 millimeters in length.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Warm indoor environments, greenhouses, and tropical agricultural regions on host plants.

Diet & Feeding

Plant sap extracted using piercing-sucking mouthparts, excreting sticky honeydew.

Behavior Patterns

Females are wingless and stationary, covered in a powdery wax secretion for protection.

Risks & Benefits

They are major agricultural pests that weaken plants and promote sooty mold growth via honeydew.