My experience is nearly the same as Kathleen's. I haven't had a widespread problem, and my response upon seeing them has been to dip a Q-tip in mineral oil and wipe off the offending pests. It takes multiple applications or perhaps I have been lucky for catching it early, or for having a collection of plants that are inherently disinteresting to mealybugs. (I have only ever seen them on my indoor Passiflora plants.) I treat scale the same way. And likewise, I've never had a widespread infestation. Just a few new orchids (or whatever) that came in to my collection with the pests already on them. Dennis in Cincinnati