White sticky stuff on stems

nstephenson · Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 2 Location: Dallas,TX

What is the triangular shaped white bug that leaves white sticky stuff on the stems of plants? And, what do I do to get rid of them? Thanks, Nancy

goo0h · Joined: 07 May 2004 Posts: 127 Location: Denton,TEXAS

nstephenson wrote: What is the triangular shaped white bug that leaves white sticky stuff on the stems of plants? And, what do I do to get rid of them? Thanks, Nancy
Perhaps mealybug?

http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/bimg118.html

If so, perhaps these might help:

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=999

I looked in the Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening book and they state the following for controlling: "citrus sprays, neem, natural diatomaceous earth, predator insects, and lizards."

BTW, do you have any fire ants?

http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2002/F/20022356.html

Kay Young · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 133 Location: Dallas,TX

Or it may be a leafhopper. In Howard's Bug book he has a picture titled "Leafhopper resembling mealybug". The leafhoppers are very active in my garden. I've never had mealybugs on anything but house plants.

He describes them as disinctive wedge-shaped insects with triangular heads. Most are brown or green, but some are brightly decorated. All have well-developed hind legs for jumping.

To get rid of them, Howard says to use stong blasts of water, and citrus oil products. For heavy infestations he says to use horticultural oil.
K