Those are mealybugs. They reproduce rapidly and they have a short, 4-6 week lifecycle.
Treatment is easy.
You could use a quart-sized hand held plastic spray bottle. Fill it with water and then add 2 drops of liquid dish soap. Spray the entire plant, up down, over and under. That first spray should take care of all of the big ones. A second spray ten days later should kill any eggs that hatch. A third spray ten days later finishes the treatment. Repeat as needed.
OR you could use a cotton swab dipped in 70% Isopropyl alcohol. Touch it to every bug, it kills on contact. Then spray the plant with plain water to rinse off the alcohol. Again, use as often as needed!
