Mealy Bug

Mealy Bug (Coccus adonidum or Dactylopius longispinus; see COCCUS), an insect naturalised in our hothouses, and very commonly found on such plants as Stephanotis and Camellia, orchids and pine-apples. The young appear like small reddish-brown moving specks on the leaves and small branches, to which they afterwards affix themselves by the beak. As they grow older they become darker in colour, and are covered over with a white powdery-looking substance. After fertilisation, which usually takes place in spring, the female, remaining in the position described, lays her eggs between her body and the surface of the plant, after which her body shrivels up until it forms a covering for the mass of eggs, rendered more effectual by the large amount of cottony material formed over it. The young can be seen developing in scores in the midst of this material, from which they afterwards free themselves, and run about on the plant. The Mealy Bug is disliked by gardeners chiefly on account of the amount of dirt that collects round it on the leaves and branches, and the injury it does to the flowers and fruit. Lightly syringing the plants with soft soap and quassia solutions with a little paraffin oil in addition is generally sufficient to check the ravages of this little pest, especially if put on before the larvae acquire their mealy coats. On valuable plants this may be painted with brushes. Tobacco smoke proves useful in the early stages.