Prickly Pear Cactus with MealyBug Infestation

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Toffy Ramona, CA Apr 16, 2015

Planted this Prickly Pear Cactus 26 years ago. This year it has gotten an infestation of what I Googled to find out is Mealybugs. This is a Huge Cactus and Huge Infestation. I spent an hour trying to find on Dave's Garden what was wrong with the Cactus...seems it is getting complicated to get to the information needed especially when in a hurry....oh well. Not the first time that I have given up....... :(
When I used the hose with Jet Spray on the Cactus it started Bleeding......Yes, Blood. Here is the pics....

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OCCAROL Santa Ana, CA(Zone 10b) Apr 17, 2015

Sounds like you found the cure. Cactus doesn't bleed red, so it must be the mealys.

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Toffy Ramona, CA Apr 17, 2015

Wow...Thank you for your response...I was reading your answer to the same problem on Citrus and was surprised to find out that Ants bring the Mealybugs to the plants...your solution for the Ants is liquid Taro Ant Bait in a Saucer, with a pot over that to attract the Ants, and keep the beneficial bugs out...I will look for this this weekend. Also...I have a small bottle of Neem Oil. However, I know that Oils rarely mix with water. So what do I use to mix the Neem Oil in order to spray the Cactus after I pressure wash the White Stuff off?? Or do I have to use the neem oil neat...??

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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) Apr 17, 2015

If it is Neem oil intended for gardens it is probably a form that will mix with water well enough that you can use a sprayer to apply it. If it is neem oil for some other use (I have no idea what else) it might not be safe for the plant.

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OCCAROL Santa Ana, CA(Zone 10b) Apr 17, 2015

If it were mine, I would wash it off with Insectecidal soap, or any soap for that matter, in the evening, then rinse it with the hose the next morning. Neem oil does mix with warm water, but as with any oil, you have to be careful not to spray on sunny, hot days. Mealys are covered with a waxy coating, so soap will penetrate , or oil can smother. I'm experimenting with Dr. Bonner's Peppermint soap at the moment, as all succulent type plants (including orchids) seem to be prone to mealys and scale.

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Toffy Ramona, CA Apr 20, 2015

Thank you for the suggestions. I have Neem Oil. and I have Bonner's Peppermint Soap. I also figured I would use our High Pressure Washer....(Generally used for other stuff) but I cannot get close to the Cactus as it sits behind other large plants, and on the other side of a fence, on a slope. I hope the Pressure Washer can reach it. All I can do is try.

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