Mealy Bugs, with their wax coating and ability to hide in the leaf joints and crevices of greenhouse plants, can be hard to get the better of - and our Mealy Bug Killer has had to enlist the help a ladybird from the other side of the world to successfully reduce the numbers of this prevalent greenhouse pest.

Our Mealy Bug Killer contains 25 adult cryptolaemus montrouzieri ladybirds, a native of Australia, which enjoys nothing more than crunching its way through mealy bugs all summer long. The ladybird is most active at temperatures of 23-25ºC and when days are long, and is particularly adept at clearing large infestations of mealy bug. When temperatures are cooler and daylight limited, the ladybird larvae (available in tubes of 10 and 25) will tuck into the pests and are ideal for spot treatments on individual plants. Mealy Bug Killer is supplied with full application instructions.

Please Note: This live product is despatched to UK addresses only!

Mealy Bug Killer available in adult or larvae form
Choose from 25 adult ladybirds or tubes containing 10 and 25 larvae
Australian ladybird cryptolaemus montrouzieri is a proven predator of Mealy Bug
Use adults in summer when days or long and temperatures high
Adults are best at clearing large infestations
Larvae the first choice at lower temperatures (17-18ºC)
Use Mealy Bug Killer in both greenhouse and conservatory
Larvae ideal for spot treatments on individual plants
Average dosage rate is 1-2 applications every 7-14 days depending on level of infestation
Perfectly natural form of control
Safe to use around children, pets and wildlife
Adults will feed on scale insects when Mealy Bug supply is exhausted
Try our Savona Fatty Acid Concentrate when temperatures are too low for predators

Live Pest Control Delivery

Being a live product the ladybirds are ordered weekly every Thursday. These are then delivered on Wednesday of the following week for delivery by the end of the week.

For example an order placed on a Monday would be ordered on Thursday, received the following Wednesday for delivery by the end of that week.

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Symptoms

Colonies of glasshouse mealy bugs (pseudococcus obscurus) can develop on leaves, stems, buds, flowers and fruits of many different host plants. Many of the most popular greenhouse and houseplants are susceptible to attack from infestations of mealy bugs; fortunately they are easy to observe with the naked eye as the young and mature mealy bugs are covered with a dusty white wax, especially when they congregate in leaf axils. Infestations will weaken and distort plants, and the mealy bugs can inject toxins during feeding, which leads to a yellowing of the foilage. Extensive, untreated infestations can result in the death of plants. Another indication of the presence of mealy bugs is the black sooty mould which is encouraged by the honeydew secreted by this common pest.

Description and Life Cycle

Female mealy bugs lay about 5 batches of 100 to 150 eggs which are protected by the easily recognisable white woolly wax. These eggs hatch in a few days at relatively high temperatures and the nymphs, although mobile will often remain in one position for long periods whilst feeding. Unfortunately, females can reproduce parthenogenetically and populations can become huge in autumn and early winter. As mealy bugs were accidentally introduced from tropical and sub-tropical climates they thrive in the glasshouse environment.

Biological Pest Control Treatment

Commonly known as Australian ladybird, cryptolaemus montrouzieri was introduced from Australia via California to most parts of the world and is recognised as an excellent predator of mealy bugs. The adult is a ladybird shaped beetle which will consume host eggs and young nymphs, whilst the older larvae will consume all stages of mealy bug. The eggs are laid singly into woolly mass of mealy bugs and several hundred can be consumed during the predators development. As is common with most biological predators, cryptolaemus development is much faster at higher temperatures, with the egg to adult cycle taking 25 days at 30 degrees centigrade and 72 days at 18 degrees. The predator also thrives on sunshine and is far more active when this is present. Larvae can move freely over plants in search of prey and some may overwinter in glasshouses, but in general fresh insects are introduced for control each spring.

Live Pest Control Delivery

Being a live product the ladybirds are ordered weekly every Thursday. These are then delivered on Wednesday of the following week for delivery by the end of the week.

For example an order placed on a Monday would be ordered on Thursday, received the following Wednesday for delivery by the end of that week.