---
title: "These strange white spores have stared to appear on a couple of my…"
description: "These strange white spores have stared to appear on a couple of my plants and they don’t seem too happy about it. Any ideas on what it could be?"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/LX1gqRaSzHXl9lMOj7fNQ1?language=sv"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems 🇺🇸"
author: "xanplex"
published: "2025-01-22T11:41:16.073103Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/alMltc0ciQ9I0w3p5jb9_J6otSS59aIWuqM_zGXJUWE/sZFU5azrRsOdOk5i22mRJw.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md?language=sv) / [Pests, diseases and problems 🇺🇸](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md?language=sv)

# These strange white spores have stared to appear on a couple of my…

_Postat av xanplex den 2025-01-22_

These strange white spores have stared to appear on a couple of my plants and they don’t seem too happy about it. Any ideas on what it could be?

![Bilaga 1 av 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/alMltc0ciQ9I0w3p5jb9_J6otSS59aIWuqM_zGXJUWE/sZFU5azrRsOdOk5i22mRJw.webp?size=large)

## 9 kommentarer

### Wolfen 🐺 kommenterade den 2025-01-22

Looks like Cochineal, it's a pest

#### xanplex svarade den 2025-01-22

Ah I see. Thank you so much, I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what it was

#### Wolfen 🐺 svarade den 2025-01-22

The issue, especially on cacti is people mistake it for a natural cactus feature. Like the puffy white glochids. And these guys are extremely prolific like mealy bugs.

#### xanplex svarade den 2025-01-22

Of course, that makes sense. Thankfully in some ways I’ve never come across it before. I did have a gnat problem but I solved that with a sprinkle of cinnamon haha

### KJM kommenterade den 2025-01-22

I've never heard of cochineal! You learn something new everyday. You must live in the southwest because I don't think I've ever seen them around me in Iowa. They look like a close relative of mealy bug. Since you have seen them on more than one of your plants I would treat everything and then treat it again in a few days. If they are anything like mealy bugs you have to stay on them in order to eradicate them. Good luck.

#### Sunny svarade den 2025-01-22

Google it. Cochineal are a huge part of the food, drug and paint industry. They produce a natural dye. It’s known as Carmine Red in paints named after the carmine acid the bugs contain. It’s in lipstick, cheetos, tomato based processed foods and many others because it’s a stable dye. A lot of the lab created red dyes have been banned because they can cause cancer.

They are not welcomed on houseplants. They remind me of mealybugs too much. 🍀🪴

#### xanplex svarade den 2025-01-22

I’d never heard of them either. I had a succulent gifted to me recently and I think that’s where they came from. They’ve definitely moved to another of my plants. Fingers crossed I can keep it under control

#### Wolfen 🐺 svarade den 2025-01-22

Treat everything nearby! And make sure to wipe down the bottom of the pots too.

### KJM kommenterade den 2025-01-23

I am so glad that I do not wear red lipstick or eat Cheetos.

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