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Mealybugs (Pseudococcidae)
Mealybugs are soft-bodied insects covered in white, waxy filaments that feed on plant sap and excrete honeydew, promoting sooty mold growth and causing wilting, yellowing, and dieback on a wide range of ornamental houseplants, greenhouse crops, and outdoor ornamentals. They tend to congregate in protected areas like leaf axils and root crowns, making them difficult to reach with contact sprays. Systemic insecticides, horticultural oils, and repeated applications of isopropyl alcohol targeted at colonies provide effective management.