Mealy bugs are white, soft-bodied insects that suck plant juices.
They are covered with white, waxy threads that protect them from predators. They are normally found where leaves join stems or along leaf veins, and their feeding will cause leaves to turn yellow and drop. Plants most commonly affected by mealy bugs include aglaonema, most ferns, some palms, ficus, some draceanas, pothos, philodendron, Norfolk Island pine, schefflera, dieffenbachia, jade plant, African violets, streptocarpus and yucca. Control mealy bugs by pruning infested branches and removing and destroying heavily infested plants. These pests may also be controlled with insecticidal soap.