Mealybugs on Snake Plant
How to identify and get rid of mealybugs on Snake Plant. Size: 2–4mm.
Identifying mealybugs on Snake Plant
White cottony masses tucked between the tightly overlapping leaf bases at the centre of the plant, where leaves emerge from the soil — a spot easy to miss since it's hidden from a casual glance.
Life cycle
Females lay 300–600 eggs in cottony masses. Spread by crawlers and on contaminated tools.
Damage to Snake Plant
Mealybugs sap-suck at the base of the leaves, causing yellowing and softening right where the leaf meets the soil — on a plant known for rigid, upright leaves, this base softening is often the first visible sign of a heavier infestation.
How to treat mealybugs on Snake Plant
Dab visible mealybugs with a cotton bud soaked in rubbing alcohol, working carefully between the base of the leaves. Follow with insecticidal soap or neem oil, repeating every 7–10 days.
Preventing mealybugs on Snake Plant
Check the base of the leaf rosette periodically where leaves overlap, and quarantine new plants before placing them nearby.