Mealybug
PEST
When it's active · UK
JFMAMJJASOND
When it's active · Northern Italy
JFMAMJJASOND
When it's active · Central Italy
JFMAMJJASOND
When it's active · Southern Italy and islands
JFMAMJJASOND
How to recognise it
Small, white, cottony masses clustered in leaf joints and on stems, often with sticky honeydew.
Life cycle and conditions
Thrives in warm, still indoor conditions year-round; breeds continuously where temperatures stay mild.
Prevention
Inspect new houseplants before buying or bringing them home; isolate any affected plant promptly.
How to treat it
🌿 ORGANIC · RECOMMENDED
Dab colonies with a cotton bud dipped in methylated spirit, or use a horticultural soap spray; repeat treatments as eggs hatch in waves. This is usually sufficient on its own for houseplants.
🧪 CHEMICAL · IF YOU CHOOSE
A systemic houseplant insecticide is rarely necessary but can help with a severe, established infestation that hasn't responded to repeated soap treatments.
PLANTS MOST AFFECTED