They cunningly hide under a shell of white wax while they drain the lifeblood of orchids. Mealybugs are among the most common pests on popular indoor plants. You can find out how to successfully combat the parasites here.

Mealybugs, as the name suggests, leave a residue similar to wool

You can recognize the infestation by these symptoms

Mealybugs hide their 0.5 cm small, oval body under a waxy protective layer. This armor keeps moisture and predators out. It is these tiny cotton balls on the leaves and shoots that primarily catch the eye. Due to its explosive multiplication, the affected orchid is covered with white webs within a short time. In addition, the following symptoms signal an infestation with mealybugs:

  • The lack of plant sap weakens the orchid's entire constitution
  • The leaves deform, wither and fall off
  • Shoots and buds show crippling

Since mealybugs are masters of camouflage, their presence is only noticed when large colonies have already formed. Therefore, please take a regular look at the undersides and axils of the leaves, because this is where the dilemma usually begins.

Home remedies combat mealybugs in the early stages

As long as lice are just establishing themselves on a plant, use home remedies to get rid of the parasites. The following methods have proven themselves in practice:

  • Shower the orchid upside down with as strong a jet of water as possible
  • Then soak a cloth in alcohol to wipe the leaves and shoots
  • Dip cotton swabs in alcohol to dab individual mealybugs in leaf axils

For further treatment, isolate the orchid from other plants so that the pests do not spread further. In the quarantine room, spray the plagued orchid every 2 days with a mixture of 1 liter of water, 1-2 tablespoons of soft soap (€44.90) and 1 dash of spirit. Ready-made soap solutions are now also available in specialist shops.

These insects like to eat mealybugs

If a high infestation pressure has already developed, you will no longer achieve a resounding success in combating it with home remedies. Instead of resorting to chemical insecticides now, get effective protection from the animal kingdom. The following predators are available in specialist shops and will enthusiastically hunt for mealybugs on your orchids:

  • The larvae of the Australian ladybird (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri)
  • The parasitic wasp (Leptomastix dactylopii)

The parasitic wasp is only active from a room temperature of 24 degrees Celsius. In contrast, the predatory ladybug already feels at home at normal room temperatures and destroys countless mealybugs during its approximately 50-day lifespan. Once the pest colonies have been eliminated, the ladybugs migrate in search of new grazing grounds.

tips

Mealybugs are very popular in winter. The dry heating air in living rooms gives the pests a lasting boost. Frequently brought in by buying new indoor plants, the lice are now multiplying explosively. By increasing the humidity to more than 60 percent, you can buy the edge from mealybugs.

Category:

Indoor plants