Mealybugs attract ants by excreting honeydew, a sticky, sweet substance that the ants feed on. Around 275 species of mealybugs are known to exist in the continental US. Follow these agricultural tips to prevent and reduce populations of mealybugs in the garden: Before purchasing new plants, inspect them for the presence of mealybugs. These ants prevent predators from reaching the mealy bugs and also they carry the mealy bugs to other plants. They may have waxy tufts around the body margin and several tails at the rear end. (How’s that for a visual?) Preventing Mealybugs on Outdoor Plants. They love to thrive on leaf joints and leaf crevices, which makes them hard to spot and kill right away! They’re teeny tiny (about 1 to 4 millimeters long) and covered in a waxy powder that serves as body armor. They feed on plants’ vital sap by inserting their needle-like mouthpart (stylet) and leave their hosts sabotaged. This will get this stick stuff off the leaves. They usually grow naturally in warm and humid climate. so first we need to control the ant infestation first in your garden by rinsing away the ant hill or using diatomaceous earth. They vary in size from 1/20 - 1/5 of an inch long. Mealybugs may be found at rest or slowly crawling on the undersides of leaves, on stems in flowers or even on the outside of the pot. Mealybugs feed by sucking sap from their host plants, weakening them. Mealy bugs secrete a honeydew which attracts the ants. Mealy bugs can be brought home on new plant purchases, so inspect your plants before you buy. Plants infested with mealybugs usually have leaves that turn yellow and wilt, and if the infestation is not eliminated, the plant may eventually die. They can be introduced on new plants, tools or pots, and can even ride along on people who have handled plants with mealybug on them. To do this, just carefully pull the plant out of the pot and look for mealybugs on the roots. Where Do Mealy Bugs Come From? Beneficial cultural practices can also be used for outdoor mealybug control. Where do they come from? Photo courtesy of Pinterest> After that, prepare to clean your infected plants by taking the plant out of the pot and rinsing them under a strong stream of water. If you only found a few mealy bugs on your plant, you can just wipe them off with your hands, or use a towel, or a q-tip. Like most pests, the best control for mealybugs is defensive. Check plant roots for mealybugs, too. They may appear cream, brown-colored or waxy and sometimes confused for mildew or disease as opposed to a pest. Healthy, vigorous plants are less susceptible to infestation than weak, underpotted, and stressed plants. When you’re trying to identify the tiny white bugs on your plants, here’s how you can tell if they’re mealybugs: Mealybugs have pinkish-purple bodies but often appear white or light gray once they cover themselves in a cotton-like wax.