Friend!
The genus SCYMNUS includes many species of small black, brown, mottled or spotted beetles. The larvae are usually covered with a white wax and are often mistaken for mealybugs. They feed on mealybugs, scale insects, aphids, red spiders, mites and insect eggs. Adults are about 1/12 inch (2 mm) long.
Foe!
MEALYBUG LARVAE are much smaller – 1/8 inch(2-3mm) and are found on houseplants or plants in greenhouses. They cannot survive outside in our climate. Always inspect new plants – if they have mealybugs throw them out as they can spread quickly to other plants!
Image: Scymnus images – Elaine Sedgman
Mealy Bug image – Çarl Davies CSIRO, Wiki Commons
Sources:
Gilkeson, L. Natural Insect, Weed & Disease Control, 2013. www.lindagilkeson.ca
Western State University. http://treefruit.wsu.edu/crop-protection/opm/lady-beetles/
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