
Community identification
Mealybug
Pseudococcidae
- Order & Family
- Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae
- Size
- 1 mm to 4 mm in length.
Natural Habitat
Warm indoor environments, greenhouses, and outdoor tropical plants.
Diet & Feeding
Sap from plant phloem, extracted using piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Behavior Patterns
Immobile on plant stems or leaves, secreting a protective white powdery wax layer.
Risks & Benefits
Major agricultural pest causing yellowing leaves and plant decline, while excreting sticky honeydew that promotes sooty mold.