I cannot get rid of these dang mealy bugs!!!!!!!!!!

[Bonsai_Bentley]

Here's some pics of them. Pretty sure they multiplied while I was at work.

 

[Bonsai_Bentley]

A systemic insecticide is one if the best killers of sap sucking insects. But the alcohol and cotton swabs is the most direct approach. Trouble is it is almost impossible to find all of the millions of eggs they lay so you have to stay at it through multiple gemerations.

I've tried Bayer 3:1 systemic a month ago and it doesn't seem to be working. Maybe I need to apply more.

 

[Bonsai_Bentley]

The other pic didn't upload for some reason.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Interestingly I don’t see any leaves on the plant. Since most systemics are taken up and transported via the transpiration stream they may not be getting any. Are they all on the bark and are there any leaves and if so are they on them?

 

[ysrgrathe]

I have found dormant sprays are an important way to get ahead of mealybugs on maples. You can also buy ladybugs to eat them but unless you keep them in a greenhouse I'm not sure it is worth it.

 

[Shibui]

One of the big reasons mealy bug keep coming back is that there are usually some living on the roots under the soil. Unless you can kill those as well as the above ground ones they just keep breeding. Systemics are most effective because they kill both above ground and the ones feeding on the roots at the same time.
Alcohol sprays do not seem to affect the plants and I have not seen it affect the roots after spraying either but have not tried soaking a pot in alcohol yet.

 

[Woocash]

We used to use a product called Drench at work for these because we always found them at the base of aspidistra and dracaena plants and they were breeding in the soil. Added to water when we watered the plant. Unfortunately, I have no idea of the why’s and wherefore‘s, I just did what I was told the treatment should be. It seemed to work though.

 

[Forsoothe!]

One of the big reasons mealy bug keep coming back is that there are usually some living on the roots under the soil. Unless you can kill those as well as the above ground ones they just keep breeding. Systemics are most effective because they kill both above ground and the ones feeding on the roots at the same time.
Alcohol sprays do not seem to affect the plants and I have not seen it affect the roots after spraying either but have not tried soaking a pot in alcohol yet.

Everything depends upon which kind of alcohol you use. See attached.

 

[Bonsai_Bentley]

Interestingly I don’t see any leaves on the plant. Since most systemics are taken up and transported via the transpiration stream they may not be getting any. Are they all on the bark and are there any leaves and if so are they on them?

Sorry, there are leaves. More than it had when I first brought it indoors at least which is good. I'll post more pics when I get home. This morning I saw a lot of the buggers dead on the surface of the soil. I gave the plant a good spraying of water to try to knock others off. I'm going to go through this thread and figure out what to spray it with tonight or tomorrow morning.

 

[Shibui]

Everything depends upon which kind of alcohol you use. See attached.

More stuff I was not aware of and food for thought........
The section on ethanol stunting plants talks about watering the plants with it but does not state whether this is once off or continual. The methylated spirit or denatured ethanol that I've used as a one off or sometimes 2 sprays over a couple of weeks does not seem to have had any stunting effect on the plants I've sprayed.
After reading that article I will look out for some methanol. May be able to get some from a bike racing acquaintance.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Had mess of them on Ponderosa Pine. Used Whitney Farms Outdoor insect killer. Believe considered insecticidal soap? Sprayed liberally maybe 3 times several days apart until disappearance. Did not come back.

 

[Rabe]

Alcohol would be my suggestion also. Soapy water/neem, etc works but seems to be only a temporary setback to the bugs and they seem to return.

I had good succes with 70% disinfectant alcohol and cotton swabs. Rubbed them critters off with the swab and alcohol. Takes some time, but after repeating it a second time they dissapeared.