noun
- a small soft-bodied insect covered with white waxy powder that feeds on plant juices and is considered a pest
Usage: entomology
Examples
- The houseplant was infested with mealybugs that left white cottony residue on the leaves.
- Gardeners often use rubbing alcohol to remove mealybugs from their plants.
- The greenhouse had to be treated for mealybugs before the spring planting season.
- She noticed small white insects on her orchid and identified them as mealybugs.
- Mealybugs can seriously damage citrus trees if left untreated.
- The sticky honeydew produced by mealybugs attracted ants to the garden.