Mealybugs on Taxus

A Technical Report from The Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories

Taxus (yew) in nursery and landscape plantings is susceptible to infestation by two species of mealybugs: Taxus mealybug and grape mealybug. Plant injury from mealybugs occurs when immatures and adults insert their stylet into the cells of the twigs and remove the contents. Mealybugs generally infest twig crotches on interior portions of Taxus. Due to the very dense branching habit of the host, infestations often go unnoticed until the plant begins to decline. Severely infested plants exhibit sparse, chlorotic foliage, poor growth and twig and branch dieback. The foliage and twigs usually are covered with honeydew and sooty mold.