Mealybug

Natural Habitat

Warm, moist environments; typically found on the stems, leaves, and roots of greenhouse plants, houseplants, and fruit crops like citrus and grapes.

Diet & Feeding

Plant sap (phloem). They pierce plant tissue and suck out nutrients, excreting honeydew as waste.

Behavior Patterns

They congregate in white, cottony masses in sheltered areas of plants (like leaf axils). Males are winged and short-lived, while females are wingless and stay attached to the host plant to feed and lay eggs.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Major agricultural and houseplant pests; their feeding weakens plants, causes yellowing, and their sugary excretion (honeydew) promotes sooty mold growth. Benefits: Limited, though some species produce useful substances like cochineal dye (though that is technically a scale insect, they are closely related).

Identified on: 2/20/2026