CLOSED: What is this white bug?

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LindaTX8 NE Medina Co., TX(Zone 8a) Jun 26, 2009

I noticed some wild parsley had lots of aphids and these white things infesting it. What is the white bug called?

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Jun 26, 2009

Although these look like relatives of aphids known as mealy bugs or mealybugs, I suspect that they actually could be larvae of a lady beetle in the genus Scymnus - see http://tinyurl.com/lfaupy for an image. One way to tell for sure is to see if they noticeably move about and/or can be seen feeding on the aphids - mealybugs are sap feeders that tend to stay in place while feeding.

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LindaTX8 NE Medina Co., TX(Zone 8a) Jun 26, 2009

Well, I found my loupe, but I didn't catch them eating anything. Of course, in this high heat, I don't really want to eat much either! But one definitely moved away when I poked it with something. Otherwise, they're just sitting still. They have longer "tails" on those white segments than the pic you gave...the ends are smaller. The actual body looked greenish to me...although I couldn't see it real good.

Post #6742460
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LindaTX8 NE Medina Co., TX(Zone 8a) Jun 26, 2009

Okay...you might be right...although that pic still looks different than them! After I'd had that them inside with the A/C a little longer, those suckers started walking around looking...and finally one found an aphid! Awesome sight, BTW! There's also little bugs stuck on that sticky stuff (honeydew?). Wonder if they eat those also. Well, the parsley could be a virtual buffet!

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