The cacti's thorn dress is no obstacle for infamous mealybugs to feast on the plant sap. In particular, the dry conditions of wintering call the pests onto the scene. You can find out here how to recognize an infestation and combat it with natural means.

Mealybugs should be fought as soon as possible

Recognize symptoms and take immediate measures - Here's how

The infestation with mealybugs can be recognized by tiny, small, white cotton balls on the green epidermis. The pests hide underneath to extract the plant sap from the cacti. If you run your finger over it, a greasy coating develops, which is where the second name mealybugs comes from.

Before taking control measures, please quarantine the affected cactus immediately. Mealybugs multiply explosively, threatening to spread to neighboring plants.

Get rid of mealybugs with home remedies - this is how it works

The wealth of experience in the successful control of mealybugs with natural means makes it unnecessary in many cases to use chemical insecticides. The two best methods are presented below:

soft soap solution

  • Make a mix from 1 l boiled water, 15 ml soft soap, (44.90€) 12 ml spirit
  • Spray on every 2-3 days or apply with a brush

alcohol

  • Soak a cotton swab in alcohol and dab the mealybugs
  • Wipe cacti without thorns with an alcohol-soaked cloth
  • Pour lemon balm spirit into an old perfume bottle and spray on

Ecological pesticides based on neem oil aim in a similar direction as the soft soap solution. These are available from specialist retailers and can be used in living spaces without hesitation as they do not contain any chemical components.

Don't end quarantine too early

The use of natural control agents always requires a long line of patience. As a rule, all pests are really free of mealybugs only after repeated treatment. Therefore, please only remove a cactus when it has proven to be free of lice for at least 2 weeks. Examine the plant thoroughly with a magnifying glass beforehand, because the pests are masters of camouflage.

tips

If you care for your cacti in the greenhouse and overwinter, you have another option for combating mealybugs. The Australian ladybird (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri) likes to eat the lice. The beneficial insects are released and eat the pests in no time at all.

Category:

Vegetable garden