If you see white, sticky stuff on your plants it means you’ve got a pest problem. Mealybugs are common pests of house and garden plants in the family Pseudococcidae, unarmored scale insects found in moist, warm habitats. Many species are considered pests as they feed on plant juices, Svetlana Lungu, head of the Plants Protection Unit of the National Food Safety Agency, has told IPN.

Mealybugs will commonly leave a white residue on a plant’s stems and leaves that resembles cotton. They are warm-weather insects, so in northern climates they are principally a problem with houseplants and in greenhouses and are rarely seen outdoors. In warmer climates, however, they can pose a serious problem for entire crops.

Mealybugs can be dislodged with a steady stream of water or by spraying the plants with insecticidal soap. The list of preparations is available on the website of the State Register. If the plants are repeatedly treated with the same insecticide, the pests will develop of immunity.

These preparations also have a negative impact on the health of bees. To avoid affecting the bees, beekeepers should be notified of the panned chemical treatment beforehand.

In Moldova there are about 20 laboratories that examine samples of soil, water and plants.