It is important to understand the coconut mealybug so that, you can better prevent them or get rid of them if they have already infested your home.
First, you need to know what the mealybug looks like. The female mealybug is oval in shape. They are anywhere from 1/18 inch to 1/10 inch in length. They have a range of ten to twelve pairs of waxy protrusions. The protrusions come out of the yellow-orange wax layer. Under the wax covering, the mealybugs can be anywhere from orange to reddish-brown in color. The male mealybugs have an elongated body and a thin wax layer when they are young. As they mature, they become winged. They are far smaller than the female mealybug.
Since Florida does not have the same cold season that most of the U.S. has, you can expect to see increased activity, even though the weather turns colder. Since the climate is humid and temperate, the insects and pests are able to thrive in Florida all through the year. This means that they can continue to multiply year round.
So, how do you know if the coconut mealybug has infested your home? These pests give a variety of warning signs. The warning signs vary in each species of mealybugs. Some of the species leave only slight clues behind. Other species can actually cause structural damage to homes and businesses if not caught early.
What can you do about the mealybugs? Your best option to control mealybugs is to prevent them from ever entering your home. Some simple maintenance such as caulking cracks, keeping food put away and crumbs off the floor, and making sure that there is space between the base of your house and the dirt and wood outside are good first steps. Also, it is a good idea to have a prevention plan in place with your green pest control service. Of course, if mealybugs have already invited themselves into your home, make sure that you call your Brevard County Pest Control service to help you get rid of them.