Other Definitions
mealybug (dict)
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MealybugMealybug is the common name of insects in Pseudococcidae, a family of unarmored scale insects found in moist, warm climates. They are considered pests as they feed on plant juices of greenhouse plants, house plants and subtropical trees. Mealybug females feed primarily on trees. They attach themselves to the plant and secrete a powdery wax layer (therefore the name Mealybug) used for protection while they suck the plant juices. The males on the other hand, are short-lived as they do not feed at all as adults and only live to fertilize the females. Male citrus mealy bugs fly to the females and resemble fluffy gnats. Some species of mealybug lay their eggs in the same waxy layer used for protection in quantities of 50–100; other species are born directly from the female. The most serious pests are mealybugs that feed on citrus; other species damage sugarcane, grapes, pineapple, coffee trees, ferns, and orchids. Mealybugs also infest some species of carnivorous plant such as Sarracenia (pitcher plants), in which case they are virtually impossible to eradicate without repeated applications of insecticide such as diazinon.
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