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Mealybugs & whiteflies: the white cottony bugs
White cottony fluff under the leaves, or a cloud of tiny white flies when you brush the plant? Here’s how to clear mealybugs and whiteflies the organic way.
Mealybugs are soft-bodied, wingless insects that show up as white, cottony masses tucked under leaves and along stems. Whiteflies are their tiny winged cousins that rise in a little cloud when you disturb the plant. Both suck sap, sap the plant’s vigour, and their sticky honeydew invites sooty fungal problems. Tomato, brinjal, beans and gourds are regular victims.
They look alarming but they’re beatable with persistence: remove what you can see, spray neem under the leaves, hang yellow traps for the whiteflies, and let predators and a little Beauveria do the slow work. Consistency beats intensity here — a weekly once-over keeps them from ever building up.
Pick off what you can see
Wipe away the white cottony masses by hand (a cotton bud works well), and remove badly infested leaves. Be vigilant — they hide on undersides and in leaf joints.
Spray neem
A 10% neem oil spray repels them and disrupts their cycle. Get right under the leaves where they cluster, evening only, and repeat every 10–15 days.
Hang yellow sticky traps
Whiteflies are strongly drawn to yellow — sticky traps catch the adults and keep numbers down.
Ease off the compost
Too much nitrogen (over-rich compost) drives soft growth they love. Feed in moderation.
Recruit predators and good fungus
Ladybugs, green and brown lacewings and spiders eat them; the beneficial fungus Beauveria bassiana parasitises them. Both work better when you’re not blanket-spraying.
Frequently asked questions
What is the white cottony stuff on my plant stems?
Mealybugs — soft, sap-sucking insects that cluster as white cottony masses under leaves and on stems.
How do I get rid of whiteflies organically?
Hang yellow sticky traps (they’re drawn to yellow), spray a 10% neem solution under the leaves, remove infested leaves, and encourage predators like ladybugs and lacewings.
Why do I keep getting mealybugs?
Often too much nitrogen feeding and crowded, poorly-ventilated plants. Feed in moderation, keep airflow up, and check undersides regularly.
What is Beauveria bassiana?
A naturally occurring beneficial fungus that parasitises and kills soft-bodied pests like mealybugs and whiteflies — a biological control you can buy and apply.