[WIB]

I think you mean "mealybugs," small scale-type, sucking insects that cover themselves with an almost fluffy, white, waxy substance (although the insect itself is a pretty routine brown). If there are too many to pick off with a Q-tip and alcohol (sounds like there are), I have had the most success with acephate (Ortho Systemic Insect Killer, formerly known as Isotox). This is an isecticide that is absorbed by the plant. The mealybug then absorbs it as it sucks up the plant sap. The plants have been quite tolerant to it. I find the concentration required is roughly two to three times what the package recommends for standard houseplants. Acephate has to be sprayed on, and this should be done outside, or if it must be done indoors it should be done inside, say, a large plastic garbage bag so as to allow minimum escape of the stuff, which has a rather unpleasant odor. The treatment needs to be repeated twice more at intervals of a week to ten days in order to catch the larval forms that haven't started sucking yet on the plant as of the first application. Acephate itself is not terribly toxic to people or other land creatures. It is used agriculturally, and it pretty well breaks down in the environment within a couple of weeks. The reason you can't use ordinary insect sprays is that the waxy defense of the mealybug prevents them from reaching their target. Cynthia is one of our experts and she may offer a different approach. -- Bill