Mealybugs are very tiny insects but there is no way you can underestimate them for their size. Because they always attack in a great number and they start taking up all the nutrients from your plant leaves.
And as a result, all the leaves of the plant become yellow and gradually the plant becomes weak. These kinds of plants fail to produce good flowers and fruits. But the biggest problem is since these insects are very small, they most of the time go unnoticed.
This is why you need to be very vigilant and keep your plants on a regular check. Whenever you see them, you have to get rid of them as soon as possible.
And for this, you need insecticides that will destroy them all without hurting your plant. But the sad thing is, there are many insecticides that are neither very effective against mealybugs nor safe for humans and pets.
The good news is, from my own experience along with the extensive research I have picked the 6 best insecticides for mealybugs that are sure to leave you impressed. On top of that, I have included a mix of organic and inorganic insecticides so that you can use whichever one is convenient for you.
Keep reading through this article to know everything about these insecticides that will help you to keep the mealybugs and other insects at bay.
So, let’s get started –
Top 6 Insecticide for Mealybugs-Comparisons
| Insecticide | Active Ingredient | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonide Ready to Use Neem Oil | Azadirachtin | Organic | |
| Natria Insecticidal Soap | Potassium salts of fatty acids | Organic | |
| BioAdvanced Insect, Disease, and Mite Control | 0.47% Imidacloprid 0.61% Tau-fluvalinate 0.65% Tebuconazole | Inorganic | |
| Garden Safe Houseplant and Garden Insect Killer | Pyrethrins | Organic | |
| Bonide (BND212) – All Seasons Horticultural and Dormant Spray Oil | Mineral oil | Organic | |
| Bonide BND250 Ready to Use Insecticide | Spinosad | Organic |
Top 6 Insecticides for Mealybugs
1. Bonide BND022- Ready to Use Neem Oil
More importantly, it’s a 3-in-1 solution. Which means it kills mealybugs in every stage including egg larvae and adults. In addition, this neem oil is found very effective in preventing fungal attacks on your plants throughout the season. And you won’t have to buy a miticide to prevent mites. Because this one will do the trick.
It suffocates the mealybugs and covers their breathing pores with oil. As a result, the mealybugs die that come in contact with neem oil.
This product is made from neem seeds so this natural insecticide has no chance of harming your plants. Besides, it has a very versatile nature so you can apply it on your flowering plants, vegetables, herbs, houseplants, and even trees.
Another nice feature of this neem oil is, that it is completely organic. So you can use it anytime on your plants even at the day of harvesting.
Last but one of the most important feature of this neem oil is, that it comes in ready-to-use form. The bottle has a spray nozzle so you can just buy it and directly spray on your plants without any additional work of mixing.
2. Natria 706230A Insecticidal Soap
It contains potassium salts of fatty acids. This mixture destroys the structure of the insect’s cell membrane and kills them at once.
The good news is, you can use this insecticidal spray on any kind of plant, fruit trees, vegetables, and even on your indoor house plants as well. Moreover, It comes in a Ready-to-Use bottle so you can apply it very easily on your plants.
When it comes to safety issues, there is no doubt about it. You can use it on your plants anytime and at any stage. If you find insects on your plant you can even use it on the day of harvesting. Trust me it won’t affect your fruits or vegetables at all.
Amazingly it will protect your plant against some fungal diseases like powdery mildew.
Moreover, it contains no harmful ingredients. So if you are a fan of organic farming then this product can serve you very well to control the mealybugs and other notorious insects.
3.BioAdvanced Insect, Disease, and Mite Control for Plant
Evidently, it kills a wide range of insects like aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, caterpillars, Japanese beetles, earwigs, leafhoppers, moth larvae, leaf miners, etc. Furthermore, it treats many fungal problems like black spots and powdery mildews.
It contains 0.47% imidacloprid, 0.61% tau-fluvalinate, and 0.65% Tebuconazole as the active ingredients. The Ingredient imidacloprid disrupts the nervous system of the insects and insects become unable to send neuron signals to their body. This causes paralysis of the insect’s body and eventually, it dies.
On the other hand, the ingredient tebuconazole works as a fungicide that cures and also prevents plants from various fungal diseases.
One of the special features is that it protects the plants from washing away the insecticide due to rain that lasts up to a month. So you don’t have to worry about the protection of your trees and plants during the rainy season.
To use this one, mix 5 tablespoons with a gallon of water and pour it into a knapsack sprayer and spray thoroughly on both sides of the leaves of your plants.
4. Garden Safe Houseplant and Garden Insect Killer
It’s suitable to use on roses and other flowering plants, ornamental trees and shrubs, Vegetables, and any houseplants. And It kills all indoor and outdoor insects like aphids, mealybugs, tomato hornworms, fruit worms, sawfly larvae, psyllids, spittlebugs, phylloxera, and many more.
It contains 0.02 % pyrethrins which come from chrysanthemum flowers. It is very effective in killing insects. You see, pyrethrins delay the closing of insects’ sodium channels in the nerve cell. As a result, the nerve firings become repeated and this hyper excites the insects. And because of this, nervous coordination is lost and the insect becomes paralyzed.
It comes in a ready-to-use solution so you don’t have to bother about any extra preparation. And it is so safe that you can use it up to the day of harvesting the produce.
To apply, first shake the bottle very well. Then hold the sprayer 20-25 inches away from your plant and spray thoroughly on both sides of the leaves. You can repeat spraying twice a week or up to ten times a season.
5. Bonide (BND212) – All Seasons Horticultural and Dormant Spray Oil
You can apply this on your fruit trees, shade trees and shrubs, ornamental plants like roses, and all kinds of vegetables throughout all seasons.
Amazingly it helps to get rid of fungal diseases like powdery mildew, rust, greasy spot, botrytis, and many other diseases. You can also use it anytime no matter whether the plants are in the growing stage or at the dormant stage.
It’s made with 98.8 % paraffinic oil (petroleum oil) that smothers the insects and kills them by suffocation. Moreover, this product is free from toxic ingredients so it is safe to use around humans and pets.
To use this one, mix 5 – 10 tablespoons in every gallon of water. The amount of insecticide will depend on the severity of the mealybug’s attack. Make sure to cover both sides of the leaves of your plants or the entire surface of the branches and trunks of your trees.
However, do not apply when the temperature is above 90°F or below 40°F as it will lose its effectiveness. Also, prevent using it on the injured parts of the plant.
6. Bonide BND250 Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew Ready to Use Insecticide
It works amazingly to control aphids, mealybugs, thrips, borers, beetles, caterpillars, codling moths, bagworms, gypsy moths, spider mites, loopers, leaf miners, tent caterpillars, and more.
Also, you can use it for a wide variety of plants like fruit trees, vegetables, ornamental plants, citrus plants, home gardens, lawns, etc.
The active ingredient is called Spinosad which occurs naturally in bacteria. This ingredient is also extensively used as a pesticide around the world. You see, Spinosad damages the nervous system of insects that come in contact. The insects get paralyzed and die within 1-2 days.
The best part is this product only targets problematic insects only. So it does not kill the insects that are beneficial to the plants. And It’s available in a ready-to-use container with a spray nozzle. So all the solution to your mealybug problem is a spray away.
Meanwhile, this Captain Jack’s deadbug brew is safe around humans and pets but it’s better to use it for outdoor purposes only.
Homemade Mealybug Insecticide
#Recipe 1:- Homemade Cinnamon Spray Recipe for Mealybugs
Ingredients:
- 10 Tablespoons of Cinnamon
- A gallon of water
Steps:
- Mix the water and cinnamon and let the mixture sit for a few hours, preferably overnight.
- Strain the mixture with a fine cheesecloth and pour the mixture in the spray bottle.
- Spray this on both sides of the leaves of your infested plants thoroughly.
How to Prevent Mealybugs
There are a number of ways to prevent the attack of mealybugs. Some of the strategies are enlisted below –
- Focus on keeping your plant healthy. Because weak plants are more susceptible to mealybug attacks. Make sure your plants are not under stressful conditions.
- When you buy a new plant, check it very carefully before adding it to your garden. Because mealybugs often come in with new plants that were already infested.
- Do not over-fertilize your plants with nitrogen. Because mealybugs love nitrogen-rich foliage.
- Wipe the leaves regularly with some natural ingredients like neem oil to prevent mealybugs.
- Spray your plant with a strong blast of water. This will prevent mealybug infestation.
- In the case of your indoor plants, drop the night time temperature below 60°F because mealybugs prefer warmer temperatures. And this temperature will discourage their arrival.
- Keep your healthy plant away from the infested ones to prevent the mealybugs from flying over to other plants.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Will dish soap kill mealybugs?
Dish soaps will suffocate mealybugs and eventually kill them. Mix 1-2 tablespoons of dish soap into a liter of water. Shake properly, pour into the spray bottle, and apply thoroughly on the plant.
2. Where do mealybugs come from?
Mealybugs come from warm climates like greenhouses or even indoors. They are very tiny white insects that fly from plant to plant. They can also come in your area with any newly bought plants.
3. What is the best insecticide for mealybugs?
Mealybugs can be killed very efficiently with Insecticidal soaps, horticultural oil, neem oil, and other chemical insecticides.
4. Will baking soda kill mealybugs?
It can kill mealybugs to some extent. However, a solution of baking soda and water can be great at preventing your plants from any future attacks.
5. Can hand sanitizer kill mealybugs?
Hand sanitizers are rubbing alcohols that contain 70% Isopropyl Alcohol which kills mealybugs. However, alcohols other than this can harm your plants greatly.
Conclusion
Mealybugs are one of the most problematic pests for all kinds of plants. They especially attack fruit and vegetables. And if you don’t take timely action, the number of harvestable fruits and vegetables will drastically reduce.
So, you need to control the mealybugs right away with the best insecticide. I have thoroughly discussed the 6 best insecticides for Mealybugs. I hope this article helped you to find the most suitable insecticide according to your plants needs along with the homemade insecticide recipe and preventive guide.