---
title: "Anyone have any mealy bug treatment tips? I’m not talking neem oil…"
description: "Anyone have any mealy bug treatment tips? I’m not talking neem oil and insecticidal soap… I need to go nuclear 🤣"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/sQhIABxVWMiwhzPj4tsMx1"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "BritneyMC"
published: "2026-07-08T23:58:12.899343Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v2/cloudinary/global_data/communities/everythingHousePlants.jpg"
---

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# Anyone have any mealy bug treatment tips? I’m not talking neem oil…

_Posted by BritneyMC on 2026-07-08_

Anyone have any mealy bug treatment tips? I’m not talking neem oil and insecticidal soap… I need to go nuclear 🤣

## 13 comments

### JR commented on 2026-07-09

Isopropyl alcohol-71%  
Use it on a q-tip to get what you can see. Then spray plant all over. Let the alcohol fully evaporate before putting back into light

### Trevor commented on 2026-07-09

Malathion should work

### Trevor commented on 2026-07-09

What type of plant is involved

#### BritneyMC replied on 2026-07-09

Several but my monstera deliciosa and a large alocasia are currently the worst.

### Kayla commented on 2026-07-09

Beneficial bugs

#### Waspinator replied on 2026-07-09

Specific effective bugs: ladybugs and a little black beetle called the "mealybug destroyer"

### Trevor commented on 2026-07-09

I had a corn plant that got them so I just chopped off the leaves and started fresh

#### BritneyMC replied on 2026-07-09

I would but look at this behemoth! I’ve had it for over 3 years and was devastated when I saw how bad this leaf is.

![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/BL8JfrHt53ry9dQV1Yr_S4mIoGTnMFT0wDfl6M4xaXc/ebCe_7GXRrGXQijGUVR8vw.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/BL8JfrHt53ry9dQV1Yr_S4mIoGTnMFT0wDfl6M4xaXc/Zo65UkyZR82qF-VOSlF9Eg.webp?size=large)

#### Trevor replied on 2026-07-09

That would be a shame

#### JR replied on 2026-07-09

Doesn’t look too terrible

#### BritneyMC replied on 2026-07-09

Hopefully not. I’ve been battling them on my alocasia to no avail so I’m just hoping I caught the monstera early enough.

### Waspinator commented on 2026-07-09

Use a q-tip soaked in alcohol to spot-treat any visible/adult mealies (try not to touch the plant; alcohol is harsher on it.) Clean the leaves (this is mostly to make any new mealies more visible.) Replace your soil (in case mealy eggs are in there. You can clean the pot with a paper towel and alcohol or use a different pot if you want to go the extra mile; I had to do that with fungus gnats a while back.) Spray a more gentle preventative dose of insecticide (neem oil or hydrogen peroxide will work on mealies) on the leaves, roots, and soil. Mealies are most affected when young, so repeat the preventative treatment every 5 days. Repeat spot treating with alcohol whenever you see older mealies. The lifespan of mealybugs is 31 days, so if you go a full two months without any signs of mealies, you're done with treatment. Mealybugs do travel, so inspect your other plants and quarantine all the affected ones to prevent them from spreading

#### BritneyMC replied on 2026-07-09

Thanks so much!!

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