Mealybug

Warm, moist environments; commonly found on indoor houseplants (like the Jade plant pictured), greenhouses, and agricultural crops.

Plant sap (phloem), using piercing-sucking mouthparts to drain nutrients from stems and leaves.

Slow-moving insects that often cluster in hidden areas like leaf axils; they secrete a white, waxy, cotton-like substance for protection and produce sticky honeydew.

Significant plant pests that cause leaf yellowing, wilting, and stunted growth; the honeydew they secrete encourages 'sooty mold' growth, though they pose no direct health risk to humans.