---
title: "Help! What is this on my Pencil Cactus that I just bought? What do I…"
description: "Help! What is this on my Pencil Cactus that I just bought? What do I do and will it hurt my other plants?"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/O-QFXjEeQSC2T79TIUJ6yQ"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "New plant mom"
published: "2024-08-20T15:56:58.637222Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/r_IGT5r-10L_iWpkP1_3FI6UIztE0SBxCUBJEda-76k/EqOn6VgETtKm9DzQFh9mvg.webp?size=large"
---

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# Help! What is this on my Pencil Cactus that I just bought? What do I…

_Posted by New plant mom on 2024-08-20_

Help! What is this on my Pencil Cactus that I just bought? What do I do and will it hurt my other plants?

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/r_IGT5r-10L_iWpkP1_3FI6UIztE0SBxCUBJEda-76k/EqOn6VgETtKm9DzQFh9mvg.webp?size=large)

## 4 comments

### V.curios commented on 2024-08-20

Looks like longtailed mealybugs

#### New plant mom replied on 2024-08-27

Thanks for your help!

### Sunny commented on 2024-08-20

Longtailed Mealybugs. Use rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab to dab on them. It immediately kills them. Repeat in a couple of weeks when the next wave comes. Hopefully, you will see less of them after repeated applications 🍀🪴

#### New plant mom replied on 2024-08-27

Thanks so much for your help!

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