Mealybug

Natural Habitat

Typically found on the stems and undersides of leaves of indoor and outdoor plants, greenhouse crops, and sometimes inadvertently transported on clothes or in vehicles.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plant juices (phloem sap).

Behavior Patterns

Slow-moving insects that secrete a white, waxy, cottony substance for protection against heat and moisture loss. Females are wingless and stay on plants to feed and lay eggs.

Risks & Benefits

They are major agricultural and garden pests that can cause yellowing of leaves, leaf drop, and stunted plant growth. They produce 'honeydew' which can lead to sooty mold. They pose no direct physical risk to humans or pets.

Identified on: 3/11/2026