@Daisyl - I am thinking of packaging and selling the well-behaved mealybugs we have in NYC. You can be my first customer!
Seriously, some years ago I had serious indoor plant pest problems that made me crazy and were also costing me a lot of money. I would treat them and a month of two later they would come back I was sure just to tick me off!
Chemical pesticides were not an option with my clients. It took me a long time to learn that the difference between 98% coverage with a spray and 100% coverage was huge. It is the 2% you miss that survive and reproduce and come back to haunt you and convince you that they can never be completely eradicated.
Thorough coverage means that all leaf and stem surfaces are dripping wet with the spray solution flowing over all of the surfaces. Spider mites can easily survive between spray droplets. It also means having the spray penetrate deep into all crevices. It is not easy and it is certainly messy, but it can lead to complete eradication of the problem. I know that from experience.
Of course, pest problems that get out of hand can devastate a plant. However, my point was that when pests are present there is often an underlying issue. When I find pests on what I thought was a healthy plant, further inspection often reveals that my watering had not been quite as good as I thought it was. As I became more experienced and precise with the care of my plants, it is now very rare for plant pests to appear. I start with good quality plants, take care of them and treat any pest problems immediately before they get out of hand.
My remedies are not for everyone. Imidacloprid can be highly effective and easier to use. Neem works well when applied thoroughly. However, what I am suggesting is an alternative that some folks may want to try.
