I don't know of anything else you could do, but I think soapy spray would work. In the past when I cought first sight of a mealy bug, I would seven spray the whole garden. Did you check If they had preying mantises?

Yeah soapy water should work, the bubblier the better. That's a good idea..like an MG sprayer for the hose? Put some soap in it and spray away baby! I was just out killin some earlier. lil fantail b@$t@rd$.

I found some freaky lookin things yesterday..alien scary lookin things..Didn't even wanna touch 'em. I threw them in the pond for the fish to eat. I have no clue what they were.

Thanks both of you. I hope I don't flood the yard with bubbles, lol. I have some sevins dust. I wonder if that will get rid of them if I shake it out of the bag. I broke my duster applying thingy last year and forgot about it.

We'd better do more research into this, or wait for more opinions Kristy. Now that you said that I am wondering if you can OD the plants with the soap?
Normally it's just sprayed right on the underside of the leaves and the stem, where they all are, so its really no prob, but...I wouldnt want to see you starting all over like Kylie. damn cows. I feel so bad for her.
I wonder if the sevin would work on them..it should say right on the pkg..
I bought Ortho Bug-Geta the other day for snails and slugs..I swear that stuff attracted more snails and slugs than I even had to begin with! I had GIANT snails in my beds..I have NEVER even had one snail before I used that stuff!
ugh, i hate bad bugs. Good luck!
Its hot as b@lls here..I'm out to the pool.

Yep, I will check before we do anything. We need to watch our language. I forget Deerslayer is only 15 I think and a preacher's son. Sorry if I got carried away in any of my other posts and said anything offensive. Sorry, we forget there are tender ears reading here as well, lol.

OOps, sorry! 15! wow, a baby. lol, sorry deerslayer, but you are :)
15 and into gardening? that's great!!
Did I miss a post where deerslayer's age was mentioned? And the son of a preacher? Well, we know where I'm agoin, lol.
I promise to try and speak nicely :)

Lol, it was in an earlier post that I read right after I was saying some not so nice things the other day when I had the week from where we are going for talking like that, lol. It is nice to see young people into gardening. I am slowing getting my daughter into it. She just wants to pick all the flowers but did adopt a passi and a morning glory and calls it hers. She loves the roses but I sure can't find her when they need to be sprayed, lol.

LOL Kristy, o good, at least I;m not alone goin to that hot place..know any really heat lovin plants, lol.
My 9 yr old is into it, but half heartedly lately.
They just want the pretties, and not the work!

Try one of these: http://www.ehow.com/how_6935_control-mealybugs.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art

Linda

http://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/insects/plantscape/mealybugs.htm

Here is a great informational site. 2 parts rubbing alcohol to 1 part water and spray the heck out of the plants, you will have to do this several times to get rid of them.

rubbing alcohol is the only thing that works for me on mealy bugs. In the end, I used a Q-tip in touched each bug. It was a long process, but worked.

I normally use alcohol if its just a few plants but they are getting out of control. I have never seen so many in my life and they are actually killing some of my small plants. Most are annuals but they looked so pretty grouped together now its turned into an all you can eat buffet. I need to use something I can put in my hose end sprayer to get everything they are so widespread. Aphid and ants too. It is terrible with the bugs this year and I haven't seen any ladybugs like normal either. I do have some parasitic wasps and lots of birds I see picking in the flower beds. If they don't get more ladybugs in by next week I'll order some of those and the lacewings when I get paid off the internet. I just need to do something to slow them down until then. Thanks for the websites. I will go check them out more thoroughly. I wish I had realized how many were out there, I would have ordered them a couple of weeks ago instead of the sea monkeys I was dying to have, lol. The nursery assured me they had plenty but by the time I went they were sold out. She said there is a lot of people complaining about bad insects this year. Maybe from lack of rain and that is stressing the plants? I wish I could use the alcohol but I would be out there for the rest of the year doing all those plants by hand. I bet they are on at least 30 different things scattered around the entire yard. Do any of you use a certain place for bug controling critters? I think the mealy bugs came in on some clearance rack bargains. Everthing near those plants is what is affected. My bargains are gonna cost me a fortune in the long run, lol.

I found this on the internet :

Alcohol Spray:
This spray really is great for houseplants. This especially works on mealy bugs.

1/2 cup of alcohol
2-3 tablespoons of dry laundry soap
1 quart of warm water

I would give it a try on the really infested plants, just to see if it works. I have never had mealy bugs, but I have tons of lady bugs, and Gary sprays everything with liquid garlic, 2 tlbs to one gallon of water, to keep insects away, and it is working so far. Barbra,

Ok, Barbra, thanks. I'll try that. I think I am going to remove the ones that are most heavily infested and try and save the rest and I'll try that on them.

90% of the reason that alchohol/water and soap/water mixes work is because of the water. Water alone will control them just fine, if it's done right.
You have to first stop & figure out why you have an infestation. If these plants are outdoors, you really didn't "catch" them like a bad cold from bargain plants, they're everywhere (yuck!). So it's the growing conditions that allow them to explode.
I'm guessing you have automatic watering on this year... plus maybe an extra-dry year for your area? Or perhaps if you hand water, maybe you tend to only water the soil & not the leaves/leaf-axils?
Water alone won't get them all on the first try, but it will within a month if you blast the undersides of the leaves and the leaf axils every time you water for awhile. Use one of those 6-way nozzels that has a flat fan spray, on full power, or something similar that can make a very sharp spray, and blast the nests up close.
The only time you'll usually see mealy bugs pop up outdoors is on stressed plants being grown outside their natural conditions. They're out there, but they just can't get a foothold on happy healthy native plants because their natural defenses are working well.
No chemicals necessary for mealy bugs! :^)
- Tom

Tom, I'm sorry, but I have to disagree..I get mealy bugs even on my native plants. As long as I catch them early and squish every one I see, this keeps them under control then they are gone.
Also, plain water may work to knock/wash them off the plants, but it won't kill them. The soap makes the water thicker which makes it hard for them to move once they've been sprayed, especially if it's bubbly..then they drown. I have always had better luck wiith soapy water than just plain. Otherwise just watering your garden with a spray hose would be enough. Maybe your lucky and for you it is..but not for me. They just seem to get right back on the plant.

I find hand squishing them is the easiest way to go when there are only a few. Those lil suckers jump fast and far when you're comin at 'em with a Q-tip, lol.

Hi Daniella! It sure is ok to disagree, a healthy discussion helps us all. :^)
- When you say "Otherwise just watering your garden with a spray hose would be enough"... actually it is definately enough, if it's done right, and with the right nozzel. This is a fact, and I don't say it lightly or without plenty of experience in different settings.
I doesn't look like you have really tried my method in detail. You are taking your experience dealing with them in a similar way and extrapolating out, guessing, that the method won't won't work. But you really can't say that until you've actually tried the full method.
BTW, are you sure you are talking about mealy bugs? When you say jumping bugs that you squish with your fingers, that doesn't sound so much like them. Mealy bugs are slow moving, and have bright white, very soft bodies. They also have white, sticky, mealy nests and hide within those nests in the tight crotches of leaf axils and in the tight bunches of new leaves. So it's hard to get at them with your fingers, and you would just end up with a sticky, messy, nest goo in your hand. (see link below for pic)
Just to be clear, I did not mention straight alchohol. Yes it works fast, but it is also too time consuming for most people unless you have maybe one little indoor plant. It also doesn't address the root cause of the infestation. Stop to really think why you get an infestation some years and not others. Like you had mentioned, they are always out there on native plants to some degree, so why do they just explode some years on cultivated plants, and why not other years, even though the "seed" bugs are still out there?
If your native plants have some, that may be normal, but if natives have full-blown infestations, then that's an indicator that you're not growing them in true native conditions, even though they may technically be a native somewhere else in your state. Mealy bugs are a "control" bug. If a plant is going too far outside it's bounds, they will knock it back down to keep it in check. Without bugs like this we would soon have only one species of plant on the earth. So if you have an infestation, it's an indicator that growing conditions are not right. The plants managed to survive for eons without our poisons, so when you get an infestation, treat the cause instead of just treating the syptom with poison.
Here is the real key to why the method works: mealy bugs hate to get wet. Some bugs simply hate humidity, like spider mites, and that can sometimes be harder to fix with just a hose. Mealy bugs are different. They're affected by water, but not really plain humidity. With average simple watering they are able to survive inside their white sticky nests which are very water resistant. But when you blast through the nests with that very sharp spray, they loose enough of their white coating to be in mortal distress. 2-3 waterings like that kill most of the adults. Without the protection of the nests you blasted off on the first day, most of the larvae are soon dead too. Within a month of blasting them out of those tight hidden crotches, you will have full control (they're everywhere, so we'll never get every single bug).
:^)
- Tom

Here is a link that might be useful: mealy bugs

A side benefit from using the Recipe as a foliar spray- it kills the mealy bugs. I poked at several a day or two after I sprayed and, yep, they were goners!

Brenda B

Tom, yes I am definately talking about mealy bugs, and they definately do jump. I get the fan-tails mostly. They are pretty cool lookin if you look closely at them. The first year I had my 'President' clematis a couple years ago, was my first & only a major infestation. I did research and learned about the soft bodied suckers, and tried the alcohol onh the Q-tip method. Big PITA. I have tried using the hose as strong as I can without damaging the plants, but it always seems they come right back. Every morning I water this way on everything. It's the only time of day I will blast the leaves. Yet they are back a few hours later, and it seems since they have been blasted off the plants, they are on even more plants.
I just think it's easier to get them by hand, nests and all. Then you know they are dead right then and there. Immediate full control. It's a faster outcome than if you were to spray them repeatedly with plain water.

I don't know about the native plant thing. If that is true, then how do you explain how I can have 4 of the same native 'weeds' growing next to each other in my yard, and only one has a major infestation? I watched them for a week before killing them, and disposing of the weed, and they never touched the others that were around it. It seemed perfectly healthy and flowered beautifully before the mealy bugs got to it. I don't know what kind of plant it is, but I can tell you they are everywhere here in our wooded areas and along roadsides, etc. I don't know if it is truely native to NJ, as in like..forever been here, lol.

Anyway, If you have a major infestation in your yard like Kristy does, I would think it would be easier to go around to each individual plant, inspect, and smush, rather than spraying each individual leaf axil and stems, and waiting a month or so..seems like a waste of water as well.

Ah, just use the foliar spray Kristy, Brenda says it works.

I hear Karma whispering in my ear every time I water. Blast those leaves! I used to be afraid of hurting them but now I'm really hosing those puppies down every time I water. I'm trying forceful water for a while to see how it goes. So far, so good, no pesticides yet. There are a few holes in the leaves & only 2 or 3 out of 100+ plants that are really being chewed to pieces. I read somewhere that a powerful shot of water will kill 99% of the immature bugs. Another thing to try to do is to have many different kinds of plants to attract lots of different bugs to control each other.

Linda

Someday soon I am going to make a PVC curved neck water blaster to easily get under those leaves. I like using water blasting and my plants like the cleaning also. Might have to make it where I can attach my sprayer so I can soap and oil them babies if needed.

Pesticides used incorrectly can give immediate relief and long term make it 100 times worse. Even homemade can kill a bunch of beneficial insects. Maybe try horticultural oil at 1 oz per gallon. It did not burn up my plants at this rate a few weeks ago. Test a small area 1st. Unless it is broadmites or really bad I would use water. IMHO

OOPs reread they are small plants. If you have some AS hit them at 20:1 that will slow them down and help the plants.

Jim

That's good advice Linda. :^)

Daniella I'm still wondering if maybe you don't have mealybugs. I've never heard of them jumping before, they're really slow movers, here is a quote from this link:
"Mealy bugs cover themselves with a white web out of wax and hardly move or if then extremely slowly."
They move so slowly that you have to concentrate just to see if they are moving at all. Sneaking up on them would never enter into the picture with real mealy bugs.
There are several types of bugs that can look similar, {{gwi:2102001}}. Mealy bugs do look similar, but one difference is that you usually see many more babies than adults, {{gwi:2102002}}, and in the average infestation these babies are wrapped up tight in a cluster of new leaves plus their very sticky nest, so usually there is just no way to get a large percentage of the very, very, tiny juveniles with your fingers.
Poisons (like the tea tree oil in The Recipe or like the Sevin you mentioned) certainly may work if you want to go that route, but you have to keep using them because they don't address the root cause of the infestation. Here is a quote from this link that espouses a philosophy similar to mine:
"Recent improvements in our growing techniques have resulted in much healthier plants and a noticeable decline in mealy bug populations and vigor; I now think that a substantial and persistent problem with mealy bugs (and maybe Spider mites on other plant species) is an indication of plant stress and growers and hobbyists must look at overall cultivation techniques and standards in such situations rather than just try to eliminate the pests directly (think strategy rather than only tactics!)."
I would say think of curing the cause instead of treating the symptom. :^)
- Tom

LOL Tom, heck, now you've got me wondering if what I'm talking about are mealy bugs. I did some looking up, and I have to correct myself on the 'fantail' thing, it is longtail mealybug, not fan..where did I get that from?, lol.

Would those boxwood things like clematis do you know? I went out last night and saw one on my clematis..they always seem to try and get started on them every year, but by squishing, they dont get out of control. ANyway..I only saw the one..I watched him for a very boring 10 minutes, and he didnt seem to even move once. I went to touch him and he jumped in my face, lol. You can imagine how that went..I did the typical girly thing with my hands & jumping, and let out a squeal, lol. Thank god my mouth wasn't open. That's what I get for sticking my face so close to him. Then he was gone. I wanted to get a pic to show you..will try today. Probably the boxwood things since my guys are such jumpers.

I only mentioned the Sevin because Kristy did, had said she had some and wondered if it would work. I've never used it myself. Was tempted to buy it this year but didn't. Only chemical I have ever used for bugs is what I am using right now..'Ortho Bug-Geta for Snails and Slugs'. It's workin good too! I tried lots of dif ways to control them before resorting to the chemicals..really didnt want to have to use it, but. Otherwise I try to use only organic sprays, if the soapy water doesnt seem to be cutting it.

Kristy, what's goin on?? Where are you? Did you spray?
I hope the mealybugs didnt get her, lol.

Like I said the discount plants were on discount because they were stressed and I'm sure thats why they attacked so bad. I have been blasting them with water. Ever since I saw the first spider mite they have been getting regular blasting. The first thing I saw the mealy bugs on was an asiatic lilly I hand squished, sprayed and used alchohol and got rid of them then a week later I noticed nearly every other plant in that container was dying and saw the mealy bugs everywhere then I was deadheading my dahlia and they were on the underside of the flowers. Now my poor plant has crispy looking leaves. That was the one I wanted to save the most. We haven't had any rain in months other than 1 showe about a week ago so I know the plants are stressed. So am I lol. I water twice a day by hand with the help of hubby and daughter. I used the soap and alcohol and got rid of most of them. If you don't get all the white stuff out of each crotch they come right back so it has been an ordeal to scrape that crap out with your fingernails is gross but has to be done. I am trying to keep them away from the plumies. They don't seem to like the brugs thank god. Jim you are a lifesaver. I do have antistress and I will go apply that this evening. I have been only using it on certain plants and now that you mention it would be perfect to smother those sucker with. They are probably multiplying like gangbusters do to the drought and there being plenty of stressed plants. They have killed all my annual salvia that were scattered around and my million bells.

Update on mealy bugs. They are gone. I don't know where they went but I'm glad. Something I did worked I guess but not in time to save my little dahlia I don't think. It has dead bugs glued to the shriveled up leaves and nothing left green but a few stems. If I cut it down to the ground do you think it will grow back? They got the black dahlia too, boohoo. I wanted that one really bad. I was going to start ripping out plants that I found them on and couldn't find any except for the dead bodies. Wierd huh? Between the soapy water mixed with alchohol and the antistress I got a good bunch of them. The only plant I found one live bug on was a small brug so I squashed him and sprayed it good. I'm not complaining but its worrying me that they are just moved to different plants and I don't see them, lol. I will be out checking some more tomorrow and take a look at the healthy looking ones as well. I only got the antistress applied to about 1/4 of the plants the other day. It will be cooler tomorrow so I will finish I hope. I need a bigger sprayer, lol. Well goodnight folks. I've babbled enough.