mealybug

M3E1A1L1Y4B3U1G2

noun

Any of various insects of the family Pseudococcidae, which secrete a powdery wax and are pests of fruit trees.

Similar
mealy bug
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Meanings

nounmealybug (plural mealybugs)

plural mealybugs

  1. Any of various insects of the family Pseudococcidae, which secrete a powdery wax and are pests of fruit trees.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounscalelike plant-eating insect coated with a powdery waxy secretion; destructive especially of fruit trees

Similar
mealy bug
Broader
coccid insect

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From mealy + bug, from the appearance of the powder which resembles meal (“flour”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian щитоносна въшка
  • щитоносна въшка (štitonosna văška)Translations
Danish uldlus
  • uldlusTranslations
Dutch wolluis
  • wolluisTranslations
German Schmierlaus, Wolllaus
  • SchmierlausTranslations
  • WolllausTranslations
Greek ψευδόκοκκος
  • ψευδόκοκκος (psevdókokkos)Translations
Hungarian viaszos pajzstetű
  • viaszos pajzstetűTranslations
Polish wełnowiec, czerwiec mączysty
  • wełnowiecTranslations
  • czerwiec mączystyTranslations
Portuguese cochonilha-farinhenta
  • cochonilha-farinhentaTranslations
Romanian vierme alb
  • vierme albTranslations
Russian мучни́стый черве́ц
  • мучни́стый черве́ц (mučnístyj červéc)Translations
Cite this entry
APA

mealybug. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mealybug

MLA

“mealybug.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mealybug. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mealybug,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mealybug.

Source: mealybug on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.