Mealy bugs, ants , and ladybugs

HiPoha · August 6, 2013

I am observing an interesting interaction on my tomato plants and eggplants. I can see that the mealy bugs are crawling up the plants on their own and setting up their little colonies near the buds of the fruit. Then the ants are coming along and acts as guardians to the mealy bugs. Guardians against the many ladybugs and their larvae (mealies are frost coated aphids). The ladybugs still manage to eat some of the mealy bugs but too slowly. Then along comes me. I use my trusty little paint brush to knock off the mealies from the plants. Amen.

August 6, 2013	#1
HiPoha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Hawaii Posts: 130	Mealy bugs, ants , and ladybugs I am observing an interesting interaction on my tomato plants and eggplants. I can see that the mealy bugs are crawling up the plants on their own and setting up their little colonies near the buds of the fruit. Then the ants are coming along and acts as guardians to the mealy bugs. Guardians against the many ladybugs and their larvae (mealies are frost coated aphids). The ladybugs still manage to eat some of the mealy bugs but too slowly. Then along comes me. I use my trusty little paint brush to knock off the mealies from the plants. Amen.