Definition of mealybug
: any of a family (Pseudococcidae) of scale insects that have a white cottony or waxy covering and are destructive pests especially of fruit trees
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of mealybug from the Web
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Check for summer pests of mealybugs and scale insects; control with natural sprays.
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The aphid-like insect was identified as an Asian scale, also known as a mealybug, in April.
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Look beyond the black coating for insects including mealybugs, whiteflies and scale that are sucking juices from the plant.
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A type of scale or mealybug from Asia appeared in south Plaquemines last year.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mealybug.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of mealybug
1824
Learn More about mealybug
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See words that rhyme with mealybug Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mealybug
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