Mealybug

Description:

Hemiptera; Sternorrhyncha; Coccoidea; Pseudococcidae Heymons, 1915. I am slightly uncomfortable with this ID, but I think my pictures show an Unidentified Pseudococcidae female. Wikipedia's article on Mealybugs seems to match up with my pictures and what I have observed. The first four pictures were taken yesterday, around 10:00 am. According to Wiki: "They attach themselves to the plant and secrete a powdery wax layer (hence the name "mealy" bug) used for protection while they suck the plant juices." I think this is what is seen in my photos. However, my last picture (taken in Aug, 2015) shows a similar bug which I observed moving along the branch of a tree, obviously had not yet attached itself to start sucking. At that time I had even less knowledge of this bug and really had no idea what it was. I gently turned it upside down to see if it had six legs (so that I would know if it was an insect or something else). I am pleased that I did that when I had the opportunity, because there is no way to see what is underneath once the bug has attached itself. All of this amateur probing around has lead me to the point where I can say that this is a female, because Wiki explains that the males are considerably smaller, look quite different, don't eat at all and have wings.

Habitat:

Spotted on a Guava Tree in our front garden.