â ModerateðĐš
Pests
Mealybugs on Passion Fruit Vines
Commonly affects: Passiflora edulis (Passion Fruit)
White, cottony masses cluster in leaf axils, along stems, and on fruit, secreting honeydew that leads to sooty mould growth.
Potential Causes
- 1Warm, humid, sheltered conditions favouring mealybug establishment
- 2Ants protecting colonies from natural predators
- 3Dense growth providing hidden shelter for colonies
Solution Steps
- 1Dab visible colonies with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol
- 2Spray thoroughly with insecticidal soap or neem oil, reaching into leaf axils
- 3Prune dense growth to expose hidden colonies
- 4Introduce mealybug destroyer ladybugs for biological control
Prevention Tip
Check leaf axils and fruit stems regularly â mealybugs hide in these sheltered spots before becoming an obvious infestation.
