owing season include fatty acids or plant oils or extracts These organic pesticides have a contact action and short persistence and so may require more frequent use. They can be used on edible plants if the plants are washed thoroughly before consumption.
Caption: Mealybugs often hide in nooks and crannies on plants
Q What about biological control for mealybugs?
A If mealybug gets established in a heated greenhouse or conservatory, biological control using Cryptolaemus montrouzieri beetles or Leptomastix dactylopii, a parasitic wasp, should do the trick. Cryptolaemus is a black and orange ladybird from Australia. Its larva looks rather similar to a mealybug but is twice as big. An adult will consume about three mealybugs a day, and a larva nine. They only search a small area so you need to release at least one on each plant.
Leptomastix dactylopii is a wasp about 3mm long that kills mealybugs by laying their eggs in them. They are much better at finding small colonies than cryptolaemus but only attack citrus mealybugs.
Screen opening doors, windows and vents with fine netting so the adults won’t escape. Both controls thrive only in the summer as they need good light and temperatures above 21ºC.