mealy bug

British

noun

any plant-eating homopterous insect of the genus Pseudococcus and related genera, coated with a powdery waxy secretion: some species are pests of citrus fruits and greenhouse plants: family Pseudococcidae

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This removes any dust that may collect on the leaves and helps reduce the risk of insect pests such as mealy bugs and aphids.

From Seattle Times

Ladybugs, also called ladybird beetles, are considered beneficial by gardeners as they feast on aphids, spider mites and mealy bugs.

From Reuters

John McCutcheon, a biologist at Montana State University in Missoula who studies mealy bugs, is one.

From Science Magazine

Horticultural oil smothers insect eggs, aphids, mealy bugs, scale and other overwintering critters.

From Los Angeles Times

Spray horticultural oil to suffocate scale, whiteflies, mealy bugs and other tiny pests that overwinter in the bark.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023