Apple Mealybug

White, waxy, cottony masses on bark crevices, branch junctions, and fruit clusters signal apple mealybug activity on your apple and pear trees. You will find these slow-moving, oval insects tucked into protected spots where branches meet the trunk. Honeydew excretion attracts ants and supports sooty mold growth. In the Puget Sound region, populations build through late spring and summer.

Scrub visible colonies off bark with a stiff brush during dormant season. Dormant oil applied in January through February smothers overwintering eggs and crawlers in bark crevices. Encourage parasitic wasps and lady beetles by avoiding broad-spectrum sprays. For severe infestations, target the vulnerable crawler stage in late spring with horticultural oil.