A: I believe they are mealy bugs which are soft-bodied insects with a piercing-sucking mouthpart. They produce a covering of clumps of white, waxy threads. A by-product of mealy bug feeding is sticky honeydew which coats infested foliage providing an excellent place for growth of the black sooty mold. This black coating further renders affected plants unsightly. Some mealy bug species may produce 100-300 eggs enclosed within an egg sac composed of waxy secretions produced by the female. Clean off as much of them as you can using a damp paper towel and apply insecticidal soap. Please follow the directions on the label and reapply as the label directs.

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