Mealy bugs (C.O.: Phenacoccus solenopsis)

Symptoms

• Both nymphs and adults suck sap from underneath leaves.
• When plants have mealybugs during the vegetative stage, their stems become distorted, twisted, and bushy in the affected areas.
• Sooty mould grows on the honeydew secretions, attracting ants and serving as a carrier for crawlers to move from one plant to another.

Management

• Conserve parasitoid Aenasius bambawalei.
• Spray neem garlic emulsion (20 ml neem oil + 20 gram garlic paste + 5 gram bar soap/litre of water).
• Place yellow sticky (castor oil coated) traps to attract and catch the insects.
• Spray Lecanicillium lecanii (synonym Verticillium lecanii) (20 gram/litre of water).