Seasonal development
and life cycle—Mealybugs
Mealybugs overwinter as eggs or crawlers in protected places on the tree, such as crevices in the bark.
The yellow to orange eggs are laid in a cottony mass. The young nymphs, or crawlers, are brown. In spring,
crawlers move to the base of growing shoots or fruit clusters and stay until maturity (late May or June).
As they mature, mealybugs become purple and develop a white powdery wax covering. Mature mealybugs are
about 3/16 inch long. Mature females return to protected places under the bark and lay eggs. Eggs also
may be laid in the calyx end of the fruit such as apples.
Eggs hatch in June, and the new generation of crawlers moves from the bark to tender shoots or fruit
to feed with those hatched on the fruit. Adults of this generation move back to the bark in August
or September and lay eggs for overwintering. Some of these eggs may hatch in the fall to produce crawlers
that overwinter. |
Mealybug
nymphs |
Cottony
mass of eggs |
Mealybug
adult |
|
