Of the many species that may occur on greenhouse floral crops, probably the most common one is the citrus mealybug. Mealybugs injure plants by sucking juices from tender foliage and roots of many greenhouse crops.
Heavy infestations result in stunted and distorted new growth.
Additionally, like many other insects, honeydew is excreted which gives rise to black sooty mold. The long-tailed mealybug is slightly different in that females give birth to living young. The complete life cycle can take six weeks to two months depending on the species and the environmental conditions. Breeding and development, however, is year-round in the greenhouse. They have a white powdery substance over their bodies and white, waxy filaments projecting from the rear of their bodies.