Sanitation is critical too. They love to thrive on leaf joints and leaf crevices, which makes them hard to spot and kill right away! Mealy bugs are covered with a powdery wax and the body tapers towards the tail. Plants infested with mealybugs usually have leaves that turn yellow and wilt, and if the infestation is not eliminated, the plant may eventually die. Diagnosis. Mealybugs are tiny, cotton-like, and normally hang out in white, web-like stuff on stems and leaves of succulents and green leafy plants. They can be introduced on new plants, tools or pots, and can even ride along on people who have handled plants with mealybug on them. Where do they live? Preventing Mealybugs on Outdoor Plants. You can make use of neem oil by diluting it first with 1% neem oil and 99% water. Mealy bugs can be brought home on new plant purchases, so inspect your plants before you buy. Mealybugs feed by sucking sap from their host plants, weakening them. 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