pest_control
Mealybugs on Rubber Plant
How to identify and get rid of mealybugs on Rubber Plant. Size: 2–4mm.
search
Identifying mealybugs on Rubber Plant
White, cottony masses in leaf axils and along the stem where leaves meet, often tucked where the large leaves overlap the main stem.
cycle
Life cycle
Females lay 300–600 eggs in cottony masses. Spread by crawlers and on contaminated tools.
warning
Damage to Rubber Plant
Mealybugs sap-suck at leaf junctions, weakening new growth and coating the plant's glossy leaves in sticky honeydew that attracts sooty mould.
healing
How to treat mealybugs on Rubber Plant
Dab visible mealybugs with a cotton bud soaked in rubbing alcohol, checking leaf axils carefully. Follow with insecticidal soap or neem oil, repeating every 7–10 days.
shield
Preventing mealybugs on Rubber Plant
Inspect leaf axils regularly, especially where new leaves emerge, and quarantine new plants before placing them nearby.