Mealybugs are small, pale insects that cover themselves and their eggs with a white waxy material, making them look cottony. They suck plant sap, causing stunted growth and sometimes plant death. They also excrete honeydew. Mites are not insects but are more closely related to spiders. Since they are very small, plant damage is often the first sign of their presence.
Damage includes light colored speckling on the upper surface of the leaf.
Unchecked, leaves become bronzed or yellowed and the plant dies.