How to Treat Mealybugs on Succulents? Seven Methods to Help You Eliminate Them Completely

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For beginners who are new to succulents, don't panic when you encounter mealybugs. These seemingly plump little creatures with fine fuzz move fast and are disgusting, and getting rid of them is rather difficult. Next, the editor will teach you several methods to eliminate mealybugs.

Newly purchased succulents should be carefully checked to see whether the roots carry mealybugs. If any are found, clean them off promptly and soak the plant in Jie Bi Zhi.

Succulent root drenching method: in the two seasons of early spring and early winter each year, give each succulent a root drench once with Jie Bi Zhi or dimethoate.

During the winter and summer dormancy periods, when watering is not suitable, you can dig holes in the soil surface and bury carbofuran, Tu Chong Dan, Xiao Lu Yao and other medications to prevent the occurrence of mealybugs.

Use a cotton swab dipped in vinegar diluted about 500 times, then gently wipe the affected areas to wipe away and eliminate the mealybugs. Alternatively, spray with 75% or higher alcohol; after spraying, be sure to place the succulent in a cool, ventilated place.

When there are not many mealybugs, such as just a few large mealybugs on the stems and the undersides of leaves, and it is not serious, or if there are children and pregnant women at home and you do not want to use medication, you can use fine, sharp small tools such as needles, tweezers, and toothpicks to pierce and kill them, then take the plant under clean water to wash it. Check, spot, and remove them repeatedly in this way.

Fumigation means using mosquito coils to smoke them out. Place the succulent in a larger plastic bag, then put in a coil of mosquito incense. After lighting it, tie the bag opening, leaving a small gap for ventilation. After the mosquito coil burns out, open the bag and you can see a large number of dead mealybugs.

To eradicate mealybugs at the root, insecticide must be used, but for popular products on the market such as Hu Hua Shen and Su Pu Sha, the editor feels the insecticidal effect is not thorough. It is best to use 40% acetamiprid 2000-3000 times solution, which can greatly reduce the production of eggs and larvae. Many succulent growers worry that spraying will harm the succulents, so it is recommended that when spraying, you mix the concentration a bit lower than the instructions say, first spray a small amount on the affected areas, and use it after checking the effect.

All of the above can effectively remove mealybugs, but during the period of medication, be sure to wear gloves and a mask and take proper protective measures.

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