How to Get Rid of Mealybugs (4 Easy Steps)

http://bit.ly/mealybug-control-guide Click the link to learn how to get rid of mealybugs and shop the professional-grade products featured in this video! Shop for Dominion 2L Insecticide here! http://bit.ly/2Yi9aws Shop for a 20-Gallon Hose End Sprayer here! http://bit.ly/2Mn9BTs *** Want to skip ahead? Introduction: 0:00 How to Identify Mealybugs: 0:34 How to Inspect for Mealybugs: 1:30 How to Treat for Mealybugs: 2:08 How to Prevent Mealybugs: 4:45 *** Mealybugs are common, soft-bodied scale insects that will feed on ornamentals and other plants in your garden. Similar to aphids, these pests will produce honeydew, a sweet substance that attracts ants. The first thing you should do in any pest control plan is identifying what exactly you’re dealing with. Careless identification can lead to wrong treatment methods, costing you time and money. When dealing with mealybugs, you’re more likely to spot female mealybugs. Adult female mealybugs can grow from 1/10 of an inch to ¼ of an inch. Their bodies are multi-segmented and are surrounded by distinct waxy filaments. Male mealybugs are much rarer than female mealybugs. However, keep in mind that male mealybugs look more like flies. Males can grow to be up to 3 mm long, and they fly using 2 small wings on their backs. Inspection is the next phase of any good pest control plan. Once you know what your pests look like, check around your property to confirm their presence or find hotspots of activity. Mealybugs can be found on buds, along stems, or under new leaves, and will usually pick a secluded spot on the plant to settle. On fruit-bearing plants or trees, you can find mealybugs on the fruits themselves, and you can also find them infesting underneath the bark of a tree as well. When inspecting plants for mealybugs, be sure to look out for the common signs of infestations: cotton-like webbing or wax, blackened mold from rotting honeydew, yellowed leaves, and warped plant growth. After identifying your pest and inspecting for activity on your property, it’s time to start treatment. Before starting any treatment, be sure to wear your personal protective equipment, or PPE, and remember to keep all people and pets off the treated areas until dry. To get rid of mealybugs in large areas, you’ll need to use a pesticide labeled for mealybug control, like Dominion 2L. Dominion 2L is a systemic insecticide, meaning it will get absorbed into treated plants and will kill pests that feed on those plants. This is great because many pesticides are not effective on mealybugs. Their waxy coating protects them from most direct spray applications. To get rid of mealybugs on houseplants, you may want to use a different option that can be used in small volumes for smaller plants. Just fill a spray bottle with isopropyl alcohol and spray any mealybugs directly to kill them. Using alcohol on plants is generally safe for the plant, but you may want to spray a small section of the plant to look for any damage. To prevent mealybugs, it's best to be diligent in monitoring your plants and checking for activity, and spraying your plants when necessary. Note the health of your plants, and when something doesn’t seem right, address the problem as soon as possible. You can also attract beneficial insects, like ladybugs, by growing certain plants in your garden that those insects love. Ladybugs are natural predators for mealybugs, aphids, and other insects that feed on the sap of ornamental and garden plants, so use them as a natural deterrent for future pest activity. Be sure to make reapplications of Dominion 2L quarterly. The product will remain effective for up to 90 days, killing pests that attempt to feed on treated plants. Click the link to learn how to get rid of mealybugs and shop the professional-grade products featured in this video! http://bit.ly/mealybug-control-guide Thanks for watching! #diypestcontrol #solutionspestandlawn #mealybugs