How to Keep your Summer Garden Pest Free: Mealy Bugs 

Mealy bugs are a common garden pest that feed on the sap of many different types of plants like fruits and vegetables, succulents and cacti, and flower and ornamental gardens. They are also incredibly small, making them difficult to spot at times. However, a mealy bug infested garden can be saved with the proper treatment.

How to identify a mealy bug infestation: 

The first step in treating an infestation is always proper identification. First, you can tell that you have a mealy bug issue by the appearance of cotton masses on the back sides of the leaf or in the cracks and crevices of the leaves. This is where the eggs and the hatchlings hide to be protected by insecticides. They cause damage by sucking plant sap, which reduces photosynthesis, and can ultimately kill the plant if not treated properly.  They can also cause damage by leaving behind the honey dew that they produce, causing mold infections that can also lead to the death of the infected plant. 

How to treat a mealy bug infestation: 

It is important to use a sprayer that applies pressure with application to remove the cotton masses entirely off of the plant for an effective elimination. 

Treatment options:

• Isopropyl alcohol 
• Neem oil 
• Ultra fine oils / summer oils 

For best results, reapply treatment every couple of weeks for a few months and continue to monitor for changes.