CITRUS MEALYBUG

A, Coleus stunted by mealybugs; a, cottony masses surrounding the insects. B. Healthy coleus plant. C, Life stages; b, female surrounded by "cotton" and eggs; c, small "crawlers"; d, "crawler" somewhat larger; and e, adult male. (A and B, about natural size; C, greatly enlarged.)

CITRUS MEALYBUG

The citrus mealybug is one of the common mealybugs that damage garden flowers and potted plants. Among the plants most frequently attacked are coleus, fuchsia, cactus, fern, begonia, gardenia, poinsettia, citrus, ageratum, and dracaena. The mealybugs feed on the juices of plants and may cause loss of color, wilting, and eventual death of the affected parts. They also coat the foliage with sticky "honeydew," on which an unsightly black mold grows and which is the natural food for certain ants that care for the mealybugs and spread them to other plants.

Mealybugs are usually found in clusters along the veins on the under sides of leaves and crevices at the base of the leaf stems. Since they multiply rapidly all stages may be present at the same time. Mealybugs accidentally get into the home, conservatory, or garden on infested plants brought in from other sources.

The female has an amber-colored body and short, waxy filaments along the margin. The eggs are laid in a protective cottony mass or sac resembling a small puff of cotton. Each mass may contain 300 or more eggs. The eggs hatch in 10 to 20 days. The nymphs crawl away, start feeding,and produce a waxy white covering over their bodies. From 6 weeks to 2 months are required for the young females to reach maturity. The males form a cottony cocoon 2 or 3 weeks after hatching, in which they transform to small, rarely seen midgelike winged adults.

Control: The first step in the control of mealybugs on garden flowers is to eliminate ants in and about the garden. This is done by thoroughly drenching all nests with a suspension of chlordane, prepared by adding 3 level tablespoonfuls of 50 percent chlordane wettable powder to 1 gallon of water.

Potted plants should be sprayed thoroughly and with as much force as possible. Use either two level tablespoonfuls of 50 percent DDT wettable powder per gallon of water or three level tablespoonfuls of white oil emulsion plus 1 1/2 teaspoonfuls of 40 percent nicotine sulfate per gallon. Make a second application in about 2 weeks. Potted plants may be dipped in a pail of the insecticidal mixture, then laid on the side to permit the excess to run off.

On plants that are not damaged by frequent watering, partial control may be obtained by syringing the infested plants frequently with as forcible a stream of water as the plants can stand without injury.