Mealy Bugs

[posey]

Mealy bug images:

Mealy Bugs

Now check this out; alot sounds familiar:
HELP! My confederate jasmine has stuff growing on it that looks like white puff paint. It is mostly on the joints, but a little on the leaves. I can not see any bugs, but the white stuff, when I move it with a pencil tip, is stringy, kind of like spiders web strings.

The white cottony ’stuff’ in the leaf axils is home to eggs laid by mealy bugs, which eventually hatch and become microscopic orange crawlers that feed on your plant. Once they reach adult stage, they develop a white waxy coating that is impervious to water and secrete sticky honeydew which attract ants. Mealy bugs reproduce in hot dry conditions, causing yellowing leaves, premature leaf drop and weak, slow growth.

To treat this problem Dip a Q-tip or small paintbrush in alcohol and dab each white mass. This will not completely elliminate the insects because they do not all develop at the same time. They are most vulnerable in the crawler stage. A repeated spray of 50% isopropyl alcohol and 50% water is a more effective way to treat mealy bugs. A pump sprayer with pressure works best in penetating the waxy coat and getting into the crevices of the plant. In addition, an ultrafine oil or Neem oil will work on the crawlers. Both alcohol and oil treatment will control mealy bugs safely indoors. Be sure to apply once a week for a month even if you do not see any sign of the insect.


Gardeners Supply Plant Care & Gardening Advice/Tips/Secrets @ HortChat.com® » Mealy Bugs

[Enviro Girl]

I haven't had time to read on this yet, Posey - what do mealy bugs do to people, if you already know this?

[Katinka]

Originally Posted by posey

Mealy bug images:

Mealy Bugs

Now check this out; alot sounds familiar:
HELP! My confederate jasmine has stuff growing on it that looks like white puff paint. It is mostly on the joints, but a little on the leaves. I can not see any bugs, but the white stuff, when I move it with a pencil tip, is stringy, kind of like spiders web strings.

The white cottony ’stuff’ in the leaf axils is home to eggs laid by mealy bugs, which eventually hatch and become microscopic orange crawlers that feed on your plant. Once they reach adult stage, they develop a white waxy coating that is impervious to water and secrete sticky honeydew which attract ants. Mealy bugs reproduce in hot dry conditions, causing yellowing leaves, premature leaf drop and weak, slow growth.

To treat this problem Dip a Q-tip or small paintbrush in alcohol and dab each white mass. This will not completely elliminate the insects because they do not all develop at the same time. They are most vulnerable in the crawler stage. A repeated spray of 50% isopropyl alcohol and 50% water is a more effective way to treat mealy bugs. A pump sprayer with pressure works best in penetating the waxy coat and getting into the crevices of the plant. In addition, an ultrafine oil or Neem oil will work on the crawlers. Both alcohol and oil treatment will control mealy bugs safely indoors. Be sure to apply once a week for a month even if you do not see any sign of the insect.


Gardeners Supply Plant Care & Gardening Advice/Tips/Secrets @ HortChat.com® » Mealy Bugs

Yes, Posey, good finding! thanks...The mealy bug is one of the pesticidal 'targets' and belongs to the family of Scale insects we've been researching on.

Kat

[Kritters]

Now I know I've been chastized by my fellow morgies for having any plants in my house but I want to make them critter-free and keep them. They're sooo puuurrty.

This is SO weird that you brought this up, Posey....because THIS MORNING (I must have a direct line of communication with this stuff) I noticed white webbing in my huge floor palm plant. I posted before about buying plants from home improvement stores (where this came from) so I must seem to be quite a dunce to everyone because I kept mine. I want to win on this!!! It's an obsession almost like taking on the devil itself. I couldn't believe my eyes!

I immediately thought about the mealy bugs years and years ago that used to destroy my shiffeleras (sp?)....

Then I sprayed the whole thing with my spray bottle of listerine mixed with Marc Neuman's mouthwash. Don't ask me why but I know listerine is now the hot item on the internet for bug spray and Marc's stuff, is well...Marc's stuff. The webs dissipated before my eyes.

Wait a minute....I'll go look again.

(tromp tromp tromp).....

(tromp tromp tromp) I'm back. I see I missed a few spots but the rest of the plant is clean and green. Tonite I'm going to make a solution of DE and alcohol in water and pour in the soil. But guess what I noticed....the white fibers on a few where I missed. I could have my own Morgie factory!

But actually, from what I read about the fungus gnat, they are around because of the fungus in plants (usually) or my theory that they are around if you have a fungus in your body..near the surface of the skin, on the skin, spores coming from our sweat, breath, etc.

It's written that if you don't keep the soil/roots from being over watered and stagnant, the fungus will be there and also will the gnats.

Kritts

[posey]

No, I do not know if Mealy Bugs infect people.

However, since "this" has happened to me, I think just about anything is possible and especially since I have learned and also believe in the aspect of phermones which Marc Neumann spoke about in his TV appearance via telephone on God's Learning Channel (GLC). He also has info on it at his site:

http://morgellons-disease-research.org/morgellons

Phermones are the chemical given off which attracts one thing to another. Here is a Bing search link on Phermones:

phermones - Bing

I got to reading about the mealy bug at:

Mealy Bug Plagues Bt Cotton in India and Pakistan

which I had gotten to from a post here at MDR regarding an article about GMO Eucalyptus oil which is located at:

The Institute of Science In Society

Much f the reading brought to mind things I have seen.

Kritters; I have a "NO PLANTS" rule in my home. I'm fearful of any plant bugs and phermones which I may be giving off and EVERY plany we have had in our house gets mold on the ground or potting soil.

[Kritters]

I know, Posey....:-(

I'm bad. If I can't turn these into 'singularity' plants I'll prolly toss them and buy fake ones.

Kritts

[lamb]

Kritts! Come on Girl!!
You are smarter than this!
Plants definitely play a role, why risk it?
Lose the plants now.
God Bless.

[Kritters]

Originally Posted by lamb

Kritts! Come on Girl!!
You are smarter than this!
Plants definitely play a role, why risk it?
Lose the plants now.
God Bless.

Well HI Lamb! Don't beat around the bush, er....plant! Tell me what you REALLY think!