Photo by Drees. Males are tiny, gnat-like insects with one pair of wings. The citrus mealybug is another common species that occurs on a wide variety of greenhouse and nursery crops feeding on above-ground portions of plants at shoot crotches and on foliage. In warm climates, live longtailed mealybug young are believe to be produced without fir producing eggs.
Winged males emerge from a tiny fluffy cocoon and fly to the female mealybug to mate.
Pests of numerous host plants. The sticky, sugary sap excreted by mealybugs is called honeydew and falls on objects underneath the site of infestation. A black fungus called sooty mold colonizes the honeydew-coated leaves causing them to look dark and unsightly. For additional information, contact your local Texas extension service agent, or search for other state extension service offices.