Mealy Bug

Australia has a large number of native mealy bug species in the family  Psuedococcidae. Female adults are around 3 mm long. Female adults and nymphs are oval-shaped and covered by a white waxy coating giving them a mealy appearance. They form colonies on shoots, stems, leaves and peanut kernels, developing into white masses. Males are small aphid-like winged insects. Mealybugs pierce and suck on plant tissue. Infested plants are stunted.