Comments on: Fuzzy White Bugs on your Basil Plant? Maybe Mealy Bugs

By: Rox

Rox — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:02:16 +0000

OMG now these bugs are grossing me out! I was looking for an answer regarding those white-ish bugs because my cilantro has them. I was squishing them this morning when I first saw them because my cilantro potted plant hadn’t been doing too well until I changed it to another location. Then in the last 3-4 days it had started sprouting new stems again and it was growing prettily… until this morning, ugh! The stems look wilted again and I didn’t know what to do. After having read the posts about mixing dish soap with water, I will do that, and hopefully that’ll be the end of it. I’ll keep you guys posted. On the other hand, I have basil, oregano and Italian parsley and those guys are doing so well, it’s only the cilantro that gave me troubles since day 1 (I am new at growing herbs/plants). They all attract gnats though. Is there anyway to get rid of them? I have my plants in the terrace and I hate bugs.

By: Tiffiny

Tiffiny — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:32:18 +0000

Hi fellow fighters, my Jasmine, climbing rose vine and many other potted friends were all withering away at an accelerated rate. First every bloom dissappeared and then the leaves started to go and soon I had a nice deck full of brown branching sticks. But a regular spray down of 30% Dish soap and 70% water killed off the aphids (which made the ants dissappear) I have new green growth on everything.
I strongly encourage such an easy,safe,affordable treatment. Only warning I saw was to avoid on plants where the temp reaches 90 degrees. Spray both bottom and top of leaves. I did see one mealy bug today but we had a big storm lastnight so everything blew in and the spray had washed away.
I hope this helps you, good luck!

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:04:13 +0000

I had a HUGE infestation of what I think were mealy bugs on my lilacs, rhododendron and azaleas. They were all planted this spring so I think they were particularly easy targets. I started seeing holes in the plants and several of my rhodies slowly died. Tonight after research I started lifting up the leaves and saw white furry bugs (that jump like fleas) and white fuzzy masses on both the underside of the leaves and stems. As per my favorite plant lady at my local Ace Hardware, I mixed a 50/50 solution of dish soap and water. I sprayed everything with it and now I wait. Immediately though, the jumping white fuzzy bugs were scattered around very unhappy. So, maybe it worked. I will let everyone know!

By: Rick

Rick — Sat, 02 May 2009 12:28:48 +0000

I’ve never herd of them biting.. But i do know that if they get on you skin they make you itch.. (so they cud be biting)

Cure for itches = rubbing Alcahol or an ointment like Topisolon

By: mary sciambra

mary sciambra — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:42:16 +0000

Have you ever heard of anybody getting bit by one of them? I felt something bite me down by my ankle and when I killed the bug I could see that it looked just like a mealybug, now that I know what they are called. I had them on my mint plants and I did get rid of them by squishing them one by one. My husband says that they don’t bite people but it did bite me and I still have the raised bump on my ankle and it’s itchy.

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:18:10 +0000

I believe i am having the same problem, except their on my pepper plants and in the Caribbean we call them blight.

Anyway, those aren’t white flies, their the same bug and they have wings so the fly around especially when it’s windy and land on plants with soft leave plants, usually.

People have told me to spray them with very lightly mixed soap and water while holding the plant at an angle to prevent much soapy water being absorbed by the soil (especially if in pot).

The method i’ve been doing is washing them off with the hose and my fingers and at times a soft small paint brush(haahaa this sounds sooo wacky)

Their are a few pesticides that kill them without harming the plant but i haven’t ventured to the store out of share laziness.

By: Andrew Irvine

Andrew Irvine — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:25:39 +0000

The white flies were probaby not whitefly, they were probably male mealybugs, that look completely different to the female fluffy things.

By: alison

alison — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:12:58 +0000

Panic I just looked at my beautiful velvet green Elephant ear plant and the leaves had MOLD….or so I thought I immediately took a paper towel and wiped off the stem of the least infected one and trimmed the other leaves off! I ran to the computer to look up “white insect plants” and here I am. I’ve had this plant for over 8 years and NOW this happens
stupid Mealy bugs

By: Emore

Emore — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:46:18 +0000

I am currently going through with the same problem. The mealy bugs are killing my palm trees in my apartment. I’ve tried the rubbing alcohol solution, and I hope that it works!!!

By: terry

terry — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:16:28 +0000

I have about 50 basil plants in the garden and they’re all sporting mealybugs. I’m hunting for a solution for this large infestation.

For a single pot: devise a system to keep soil in place–e.g. cut styrofoam plates so they cover the soil; tape in place if not snug. Put on some latex gloves to alleviate the gross-out factor. Run plant under water topside and upside-down and manually rub out the bad guys.