Mealy bug question

[Wishy13764]

I have this Bougainvillea, in a small hanging pot with just one 7" inch branch. Its indoors here in the northeast, and weeks ago I discovered this white patch under the leaves. I sprayed it with alcohol and pull off those white patchs. Doesn't take long to look at and treat. Since then its bloomed again on that one branch. A few weeks gone by and each day of those weeks I checked it out and saw nothing resembling them..so i thought finally I got rid of the problem, but to my dismay i saw one yesterday on one of the leaves. Pulled it off and sprayed again. I look very closely to each node and like I said its only aabout

7 inches long. I want to keep this plant. Is there no way for me to get rid of the mealy bug permanently? I'm concerned as it grows more branches.

[Phisherman]

What you are doing will work with periodic inspections. Mealy bug is not too difficult to eradicate. Personally, I would not have a problem due to the lady bugs that are finding their way into my home (lady bugs dine on mealy bugs). The life cycle of a mealy bug is about one month. There are two types: One has a long tail and bears live young; the other has a short tail and lays eggs. Look especially where the stem meets the leaf. The young have a yellow color, turning to fuzzy white as they mature. Take your plant to the shower twice a month and give it a forceful warm shower. As a last resort you can use an insecticide (made for indoor use)--three treatments, spaced 14 days apart should work. Ants are notorious for spreading mealy bugs, as they "farm" them for the sweet honeydew extract.

[Iris Cohen]

You will get suggestions for all sorts of home remedies. For mealy bug, you will need a systemic insecticide, either Orthenex or Di-Syston granules. Neither of them is disastrously dangerous if you use them correctly. Check the label carefully to make sure it is OK for Bougainevillea or its close relatives (four-o-clock family). Spray with Orthenex in the garage or an unused room, & leave the plant there for a couple of hours. Iris, Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40 "A tree never hits an automobile except in self defense." - Woody Allen

[Bonnie Jean]

Repeated sprayings with water is good. As a matter of fact that is what I do to my veggies in the summer and I never have to use chemicals on them. In the past what I do for mealy bug indoors is examine the plant very carefully and remove the all the little buggers with a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol. This has worked for me. I generally get rid of them the first time around.

Bonnie

What you are doing will work with periodic inspections. Mealy bug is not too difficult to eradicate. Personally, I would not have a problem due to the lady bugs that are finding their way into my home (lady bugs dine on mealy bugs). The life cycle of a mealy bug is about one month. There are two types: One has a long tail and bears live young; the other has a short tail and lays eggs. Look especially where the stem meets the leaf. The young have a yellow color, turning to fuzzy white as they mature. Take your plant to the shower twice a month and give it a forceful warm shower. As a last resort you can use an insecticide (made for indoor use)--three treatments, spaced 14 days apart should work. Ants are notorious for spreading mealy bugs, as they "farm" them for the sweet honeydew extract.

[bamboo]

Repeat application of Orthene, read and follow all label directions.