Common crops affected
What is it?
Mealybugs are soft-bodied sucking insects coated in white, water-repellent wax. They shelter in protected sites — leaf axils, under calyxes, in bunch crevices and on roots — which makes spray coverage and timing critical.
How to identify it
- White, cottony masses in leaf axils, on stems, and on or under fruit and bunches.
- Honeydew and black sooty mould on foliage and fruit.
- Stunting, yellowing, leaf drop and fruit contamination in heavy infestations.
- Ant trails moving to and from mealybug colonies.
Life cycle & spread
Females lay eggs in waxy ovisacs; mobile nymphs (crawlers) disperse and settle in protected sites; several overlapping generations occur, especially under warm/greenhouse conditions.
Conditions that favour it
Warm, sheltered conditions; dense canopies and bunch crops; ant activity that protects colonies and spreads them.
Damage and how it spreads
Sap feeding weakens plants and downgrades fruit; honeydew and sooty mould foul produce (a major issue in table grapes and citrus). Some species also transmit viruses.
Monitoring & scouting
Inspect protected sites and bunches; watch for ant activity and honeydew; target the exposed crawler stage.
How to control it
- Treat the exposed nymph/crawler stage with thorough coverage of hidden sites;
- manage ants that protect and move colonies;
- conserve natural enemies;
- inspect incoming plant material.
Recommended Vegalab solution: Spider Mite Control
Spider Mite Control — all-natural contact product (geraniol with peppermint, cottonseed and rosemary oils) applied with thorough coverage of leaf axils, stems and fruit clusters; repeat per pressure and manage ants.
| Role | Product | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Primary control | Spider Mite Control |
Preventing it next season
Inspect incoming plant material, control ants, open up dense canopies, and treat early before colonies build in protected sites.
Claims and product availability vary by jurisdiction. Always read and follow the product label.