Bristle Mealybug

Bristly Mealybug (GREENHOUSE) (Pseudococcus longispinus) – the female is elliptical, elongated, slightly convex at the top. The body is green, covered with white powdery wax. Along the edges of the body there are 17 pairs of white waxy filaments, of which the posterior pair is the longest and is often longer than the entire body. The body length of the female, excluding terminal hairs, is 3,5 mm. The development of this species in protected crops occurs continuously. A fertilized female lays about 200 eggs in a pouch, which she carries until the larvae hatch. The larvae that emerge initially feed collectively with the adults, forming colonies and aggregations. Several generations can develop in a year. As the colony becomes denser, the larvae disperse and create new colonies.

Midges settle on leaves and shoots, most often in forks, and feed there. They are harmful by piercing plant tissue and sucking out juices, causing discoloration and drying out of parts or even whole plants. Their saliva is toxic and causes the leaves of ornamental plants to turn yellow and fall off.

Most plants are grown under cover and in apartments.

Dealing with him is quite troublesome. Plants should be sprayed with deep or systemic pesticides, for example Mospilan 20SP. Treatment should be repeated after 7-10 days.