Have you noticed cottony clumps on your plants lately? Be careful, do not think that it is a simple fungus or mold, because it could be a much more serious problem. Mealybugs, have you ever heard of them? In any case, plant and plant lovers know them very well! Mealybugs stink! These insects are one of the worst pests that can attack your plants. We show you how to remove them instantly.

Mealybugs are small, soft-bodied insects that produce a cottony white material that protects them from heat and all types of external aggressions. Here we show you how to get rid of it forever!

Signs that show scale insects have attacked your plants.

Let’s see how you can  detect these parasites . Since they can be easily seen with the naked eye, the best way to spot them is to simply  examine the leaves and stems of your plant  to see if there are any    to them. Also check the underside of the leaves, in the folds and around the tips of the plant.white cottony masses attached

Unfortunately, they can  hide in stems, leaf whorls  and other hard-to-reach places (including roots), making it quite difficult to detect them before they spread everywhere. So be very careful with that!

Scale insects: how to recognize them and how do they develop?

You can distinguish them by their color: they are brown in color  and they stay in one place on the plant. However,  female mealybugs  are visible to the naked eye and can  lay eggs in a cottony sac without mating.< /span>

It should be noted that  mealybugs are not as devastating as the red spider , but if they are not eliminated in time, they end up destroying the plant . Let’s find out how to get rid of it naturally.

Methods to get rid of mealybugs that attack your plants

Here are  natural methods to protect yourself from these parasites  very quickly:

Marseille soap  : just melt a few shavings of Marseille soap or use a tablespoon of Marseille soap poured into half a liter of softened water. Add one tablespoon of black soap and two tablespoons of 70% isopropyl alcohol. Mix and then apply the solution to the mealybugs with a brush.

Washing plants with water:  One of the most natural and risk-free ways for plants is with water. In fact, it is possible  to dislodge mealybugs with a regular stream of water . Repeat the treatment as many times as necessary. This solution is ideal for  mild infestations .

Homemade Insect Repellent:  To make this homemade garden pesticide, here’s what you do: Combine  1 head of garlic1 teaspoon cayenne pepper  and  1 small onion ,  1 liter of water  to this paste and let it infuse for 1 hour. Strain through cheesecloth to strain the mixture, then add  a tablespoon of liquid dish soap. Mix everything well. The solution can be stored for up to a week in the refrigerator. Next, spray the product on the parts of the plant where the scale insects are found.

Neem vegetable oil (Neem):  it is ideal for  getting rid of mealybugs naturally . In fact, it significantly reduces  the feeding, growth and development capacity of these pests , and acts as a kind of   repellent . To do this, add  5-15 ml of neem oil  a  1 liter of water< a i=11>  and mix well. Simply spray the infested plant with this solution.

Insecticidal soap:  that you can make yourself with mild dish soap. Try to find a product that is free of fragrances and other additives that can harm the health of your plants. Mix the soap with water (start by putting  a teaspoon of soap  for every  5 liters of water< to i=5>  and increase gradually if necessary). Spray the soapy solution on your plants.

Isopropyl alcohol:  Soak a cotton ball in Isopropyl alcohol and apply it directly to the mealybugs . This kills them instantly. To do this, use a solution composed of no more than  70% isopropyl alcohol , and test it on a leaf before applying it to the entire plant. This will allow you to check that the alcohol does not burn it.

These tips will help you eradicate mealybugs once and for all! Do not hesitate to examine your plants periodically to detect the slightest suspicious presence of these insects. However, in the case of a severe infestation, consider getting rid of your plants and starting from scratch after thoroughly cleaning the areas where your old infested plants were.