Control mealy bug using safe and effective Cryptolaemus or Hypoaspis

"The treatment for Mealy bug worked fantastically on my citrus plant. I shall be ordering again!" Mrs B. from Kent.

"Your wonderful little "beetles" (Cryptolaemus) has done a fab job on the mealy bug in my conservatory - I've been trying to fight it for eighteen months with no success so I'm really delighted." Thank you again Elizabeth Worsley

The mature female Mealy Bug is soft bodied, pink / grey in colour and about 5mm long. They are covered with white waxy threads and a waxy covering. Mealy Bugs feed by sucking the sap from the plant so they will normally be found on the stems or leaf joints although they will attack leaves causing them to yellow. The insect extracts large amounts of sap in order to obtain enough proteins, the excess sap is excreted as honeydew which forms a sticky deposit on the lower leaves. In time sooty mould grows on the honeydew resulting in an unpleasant mess which inhibits the plants ability to manufacture food.

Above : Adult Mealy bug are at the top of the shot on the stem.

The female Mealy Bug lay eggs in cotton like pouches from which the first nymphal stage emerges. This results in white wool developing on the leaves and stems of the plants. The female is flightless throughout all stages of her development, only the young nymphs are active and search out new feeding sites by crawling from plant to plant. As the nymphs mature they become less active, the full life cycle of the insects can take up to 13 weeks at 18°C/66°F. As the adults are flightless any new infestation must initially be brought in on infected plants and once it is established it is very difficult to eradicate.

Right: Adult Mealy Bug.

There are two biological controls for Mealy Bug suitable for plants of different sizes :-

For larger plants over 90cms/3ft use the naturally occurring Mealy Bug predator Australian ladybird Cryptolaemus.

For smaller plants up to 30cms / 1ft tall i.e. cacti use Hypoaspis.

For plants between these two heights raise them up by putting them on a bench and use Cryptolaemus.

Cryptolaemus are introduced in a small glass tube from which they should be placed on the infected plants near the mealy bugs. Cryptolaemus requires both heat and light. The optimum temperature is 16°C/61°F and as the Cryptolaemus require long day lengths either introduce between May and September or use artificial light. If mealybug is present and the temperature is below 16c, control the mealy bug with SB Invigorator until the temperatures are high enough - SCROLL down to find out more. The female cryptolaemus lays her eggs next to the Mealy bug eggs in the "white wool" egg pouches, from this the larval stage of the Cryptolaemus emerges and is very similar in appearance to the Mealy Bug although only the Cryptolaemus larvae is mobile. All stages of the Cryptolaemus eat Mealy Bugs and their eggs. Unlike the Mealy Bug the Cryptolaemus can fly and in very efficient in searching out the Mealy bugs.

Left: Adult Cryptolaemus.

Cryptolaemus is available as a half course, full course or economy pack :-

A half course (one intro of 15) is for a small greenhouse / conservatory where Mealy Bug have just appeared.

A full course (2 intros. of 15 at 14 day intervals - Separate deliveries at 21 day intervals allows the Cryptolaemus numbers to build up naturally) is for larger greenhouses / conservatory or where Mealy Bug have had time to get established.

Economy pack (one intro of 45) is for larger conservatories / greenhouses or large numbers of Mealy Bugs.

Hypoaspis is a tiny mite that feeds on a range of small insects and is particularly fond of Mealy Bug and will quickly destroy both adults and eggs. Hypoaspis should be used on plants up to 30cms / 1ft tall as Cryptolaemus flies to the top of taller plants and is not interested in smaller plants. It is often used to control Mealy Bug on smaller Cactus. Hypoaspis is delivered in vermiculite which should be sprinkled over the compost surface. Remember if the infected plants are between the two heights then raise the plants up by putting them on a bench etc. and introduce Cryptolaemus.

Right: Adult Hypoaspis.

SB Plant Invigorator - This natural spray is going to be of great help to the green gardener as it not only controls a range of pests in a safe and effective way, but it also controls fungal diseases and contains a foliar feed. Available as a 500ml ready to use spray, as a 250ml concentrate (makes 25 litres of spray) or NEW for 2008, as a 1 litre super concentrate (makes 500 litres) for use in your own sprayer. SB Plant Invigorator should be in your store cupboard ready to :-

Control pests during the winter and spring when it is too cold to use beneficial insects (i.e. in unheated greenhouses / conservatories). There are no harmful chemical residues left behind, so beneficial insects can be introduced AS SOON as the temperatures are warm enough.

Control any pest hotspots ONCE natural controls have been introduced. Use SB Plant Invigorator to target any pest hotspots. It will not harm beneficial insects once they have been introduced.

Use for a pest emergency - been away or not noticed a rapid build up of pests such as red spider mite or greenfly? - use SB Plant Invigorator to get control BEFORE introducing beneficial insects.

SB Plant Invigorator is brilliant at clearing heavy infestations of Mealy Bug BEFORE introducing a natural control. Here the spray has been applied twice at 2 day intervals to kill the mealy bug before introducing cryptolaemus. The first spraying removes the protective wax from the pest, which normally makes it so difficult to control and then the subsequent spray 2 day later kills the pest. As no harmful chemical residues are left behind, the cryptolameus were immediately introduced to give on-going pest control.

Left : A heavy infestation of mealy bug

Right : The mealy bug is dead after just 2 sprays.

Special Offer - Emergency Mealy Bug Pest Pack - "Help the mealybug is out of control. What should I do?" Use our Emergency mealy bug pest pack containing 250ml of SB Plant Invigorator & a full course of cryptolaemus.

Spray with SB Invigorator for 2 weeks.

Introduce crypto to establish a breeding colony for long term control. The 1st crypto will be sent automatically 14 days after the invigorator.

Emergency Mealy Bug Pest Pack £39.00

NAME

DESCRIPTION

PRICE

ADD

Cryptolaemus

1/2 course (1 intro. of 15 adults)

£13.50

Cryptolaemus

Full course (2 intro. 21 days apart)

£26.50

Cryptolaemus

Economy (1 intro. of 45 adults) saving £3.50

£37.00

Hypoaspis

1 intro. of 10,000

£17.99

Emergency Mealybug Pest Pack

250ml SB Invigorator and a full course of cryptolaemus

£39.00

SB Plant Invigorator

1 x 500ml ready to use spray

£9.99

1 x 250ml concentrate makes 25 litres of spray

£12.50

NEW - 1 x 1 litre super concentrate makes 500 litres - equivalent to 20 x 250ml bottles saving ALOT!

£49.99

NOTE: Be patient! Cryptolaemus takes 6 weeks to start reducing numbers of Mealy Bugs (Hypoaspis is quicker) and both controls do not destroy the wool!