Mealybugs are small pests that can cause chaos in your lawn. Despite their soft appearance, these little insects feed on your lawn, damaging it and leaving behind a white powdery residue at the base of the leaf. If left untreated, their populations can build quickly, especially in warm conditions, making early identification and control important for maintaining a healthy lawn.
Skip to: What do Mealybugs look like? How can I get rid of mealybugs?
What Do Mealybugs Look Like?
- Very small at only 1–4mm long.
- Covered in a white coating, giving them a cotton-like appearance.
- Red colour underneath the white substance.
- Often found at the crown of the leaf.
Even without seeing the mealybugs, you can often still find other identifiers of the insect in your lawn. The damage they cause will look very similar to dry patch in your lawn, with yellowing occurring in some areas. However, the key difference will be that the base of the grass will have a white powdery residue covering it. In some instances, you may even notice ants in the area as they are attracted to the sweet honeydew that the insects secrete. This residue may even cause black sooty mould to begin growing in the lawn if the mealybugs are left untreated.
How Can I Get Rid of Mealybugs?
While not as aggressive as some other common lawn grubs like Army Worm and African Black Beetle, Mealybug can still cause significant damage to your lawn if not treated. Luckily, this insect can be removed from your lawn using a knockdown insecticide like Battle. To completely remove them from your lawn it may require repeated applications of the product. We recommend reapplying the product after 5-7 days, 2-3 times to fully remove them. It’s also important to follow label directions carefully and ensure even coverage across affected areas. Treating early in the infestation will always give the best results.
For all your lawn care needs, including Battle Insecticide, check out the Lawn Store here.
