Garden Pests

Mealybugs

small pinkish cottony looking with long tails, covered with wooly or white wax like.

Description of Damage

sucks sap from vegetables, plants also Dances with Ants Dept ....
Can be associated with ants.

Attacks

flowers (especially succulents, coleus), seedlings, most vegetables, fruit trees (especially citrus).

Organic Controls:

hand cleaning....wipe off with soapy sponge (add a little Jungle Rain to sponge then wipe leaves) water to wash off after wards.
Use a hose and spray with water to remove mealybugs. Hot water will also destroy .. Pour boiling water in gallon sprayer, add 5 tablespoons natural soap such as Dr Bronners or Jungle Rain, spray immediately on mealybugs, will not damage plants.
Floating row cover can be purchase from catalogs such as Gardeners Supply or Arbico
Destroy infested plants
Use barriers/traps...Tangelfoot is good to apply as a barrier around plant if plant is big enough like a citrus tree. Place duck tape (with sticky side facing up) around trunk then cover with Tangelfoot.
Or you can make your own by using petroleum jelly.

Safe Botanicals:

Cayenne Pepper (Tabasco sauce)
Garlic Oil Spray
Dr. Bronners Peppermint soap
Garden Grade DE DE Page
SunSpray Ultra Fine oil From Using Soap to Using Ultra Fine Oil
Insecticidal soaps From Using Soap to Using Ultra Fine Oil
Neem oil Monterey Neem Oil 70% For Controlling Insects & Disease
Castor Oil From Using Soap to Using Ultra Fine Oil
or look in resources Resources for more
A sample formula for spraying: in a little less then a gallon water add: 5 drops Tabasco sauce 5 drops Dr. Bronners peppermint soap or Jungle Rain or any natural soap, 2 drops garlic oil or crushed or store bought 1 drop Neem Oil 1 drop Castor Oil or garlic oil Spray on leaves and directly on bugs. test for strength to avoid damage to plants. Avoid beneficials be pest specific
A good dust mixture is:
1 part Pyrethrum 1 part Garden Grade DE 1 part Alfalfa Meal Dust 1/8 part Cayenne Pepper Mix well, dust around plants and under leaves, don't water for 24 hrs avoid beneficials, be pest specific

A NOTE ABOUT SOAP:

Do not use soaps that are chemically made or that have strange chemical additives or preservatives. Instead use only natural soap, either citrus or peppermint based are best but try herbal soaps. Use only a very small amount of soap and use only when necessary.
Get Dr Bronners Soap here
for more information on soap From Using Soap to Using Ultra Fine Oil
I love using Dr Bronners soaps

Natural Predators