mealybug
noun
mealy·bug
ˈmē-lē-ˌbəg 
: any of a family (Pseudococcidae) of scale insects that have a white cottony or waxy covering and are destructive pests especially of fruit trees
Examples of mealybug in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This is the common name of these insects related to aphids, scales and mealybugs.
—
Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Ants will swarm plants that are infested with spider mites, cabbage loopers, root maggots, beetle grubs, scale, mealybugs, ticks, or other pests that ants feed on.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
Plants infested with mealybugs usually become weakened and display wrinkled, shriveled leaves.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
Bring your Christmas cactus back indoors when nighttime temperatures drop below 60°F, and inspect it for pests like mealybugs.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mealybug
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
Ants will swarm plants that are infested with spider mites, cabbage loopers, root maggots, beetle grubs, scale, mealybugs, ticks, or other pests that ants feed on.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
Plants infested with mealybugs usually become weakened and display wrinkled, shriveled leaves.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
Bring your Christmas cactus back indoors when nighttime temperatures drop below 60°F, and inspect it for pests like mealybugs.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mealybug
Cite this Entry
“Mealybug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mealybug. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mealybug
noun
mealy·bug
ˈmē-lē-ˌbəg
: any of numerous scale insects that have a white cottony or waxy covering and are destructive pests especially of fruit trees
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share