Plant pests · SWFL Pest Identifier
Mealybug
Keep an eye on it Fine in small numbers — repeated sightings mean a source.
How to identify it
- White cottony clusters at stem joints and leaf bases
- Sticky leaves below the clusters
- Ants running protection patrols nearby
Size
Tiny (pinhead)
Where you'll see it
Lawn / garden · Lanai / patio
Looks like
Crawler
Did you know
Ants literally farm them — guarding the herd and milking the honeydew like six-legged dairymen.
What it means for you
Small outbreaks wipe off with soapy water; recurring ones ride on the ant problem.
Not sure this is your bug?
Text a photo and a licensed local tech will identify it for free — or run it through the interactive identifier.
Similar plant pests in SWFL
Rugose Spiraling Whitefly
Worth a pro lookWhite waxy spirals on palm frond undersides
Aphid
Keep an eye on itSoft green/black/orange specks clustered on new growth
Tea Scale
Keep an eye on itWhite/brown flecking stuck to leaf undersides (camellias, hollies)
Sri Lankan Weevil
Keep an eye on itChalk-white weevil with a short snout
Dealing With This One?
Get a real price online in about 60 seconds — or text us a photo first and we'll tell you honestly whether it even needs treatment.