Cochineal Eradication / Mealybug Scale

Cochineal Scale usually appears on Prickly pears and chollas, but can attack other cacti.

It looks like white sticky mounds. Inside are cochineal bugs -- if crushed, a purple die exudes. To kill, use a hose end sprayer or a hand carried pump sprayer to apply a combination of insecticide and insecticidal soap. Either triazide or seven insecticide is effective in killing the scale. If mixed with soap it is more effective. Follow the directions on the label.

You can substitute liquid dish soap for the insecticidal soap, but dish soap is not as effective. Set power sprayer on 1 or 2 oz per gallon and hose off the scale. This should kill the scale within 7 days. If the scale still has purple die after 10 - 14 days, spray again. During the winter months ONLY, the most effective method of cochineal eradication is to spray with Volck Oil spray (dormant season insect killer) which can be purchased from Home Depot.

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