mealybug

noun

mealy·​bug ˈmē-lē-ˌbəg How to pronounce mealybug (audio)
: any of a family (Pseudococcidae) of scale insects that have a white cottony or waxy covering and are destructive pests especially of fruit trees

Examples of mealybug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Related to aphids, scales, and mealybugs, whiteflies can cause significant harm in greenhouses. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2024 The most common culprits are mealybugs, teeny insects that suck the sap out of the plant. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Nov. 2024 Common pests include mealybugs, spider mites, and aphids. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2024 Occasionally, mealybugs may make their home in this succulent. Lauren David, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mealybug 

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mealybug was in 1824

Dictionary Entries Near mealybug

Cite this Entry

“Mealybug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mealybug. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

mealybug

noun
mealy·​bug ˈmē-lē-ˌbəg How to pronounce mealybug (audio)
: any of numerous scale insects that have a white cottony or waxy covering and are destructive pests especially of fruit trees

More from Merriam-Webster on mealybug

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!