© irene waters 2015
Mealy Bugs are a plant pest found in warmer climates that feed on the sap of the plant. It is actually only the female who drinks the nectar as the adult male lives only to procreate, having developed wings so he can fly from female to female. They can seriously damage plants that are in orchards and the other time they become a real problem is when they are also present with ants . Ants protect the pests from their natural predators and parasites. Unbelievably fossils of ants carrying mealy bugs have been found inside amber deposits. It is believed that this is the oldest (evidenced) symbiotic relationship between ants and bugs.
© irene waters 2015
© irene waters 2015
© irene waters 2015
For Weekly photo challenge
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About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Brilliant article Irene. Have you ever noticed they are always on your favourite, most precious plant babies? Grrrrr …
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Yes always. This lot seem resistant to everything I throw at them – must be the ants.
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Well done, Irene, but ugh! You know what I mean.
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Do I know what you mean. I have a tree covered in the little critters. They seem to be resistant to everything.
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Great photos and interesting additional information. It is pretty amazing to have this relationship preserved in amber, isn’t it?
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That is probably the only place I wouldn’t mind seeing them although I am amazed at the colours on them which I couldn’t see (probably could if I put my glasses on.)
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Thanks for teaching me something today ☺ And enticing my eyes with your pictures.
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Glad to have you drop by and super glad that you enjoyed my photos and info.
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Ugh just lost a beautiful office plant to those lil bitches. 😦
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Sorry about your office plant. I fear I am going to lose mine also as they seem resistant to everything I am throwing at them. (: Glad to have you drop by though. 🙂
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Ick! Are these like aphids?
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Unfortunately yes. My poor tree is suffering.
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Fascinating about the ants and mealy bugs, had no idea. Great close ups for the challenge Irene 🙂
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Thanks Sherri. At least my poor tree was good for something. 🙂
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🙂
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Huh! I’ve not seen these before. But I got a chuckle from the fact that the males live to procreate and the females drink…:-)
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Not a lot different to humans perhaps….:)
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