Do Succulents Attract Bugs?

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Succulents will always be a great way to elevate the look in your home or yard. Thus, it is no surprise that they are so popular.

But their beauty is not the only reason they are popular. Succulents are also popular for being pest resistant and easy to care for.

Do succulents attract bugs?

Succulents resist bugs to an extent.

Closeup of red ladybug on succulent leaves

But this does not mean they do not attract bugs sometimes. The immense water capacity of succulents is appealing to bugs. So their attraction to succulents is not surprising. Besides, bugs might also be attracted by constantly wet soil.

In this article, we identify some insects or animals that may disturb your succulents. Then, we even things out by offering some tips on how to keep bugs off your succulents.

Do Succulents Attract Bugs?

Yes, succulents attract bugs. Despite being largely bug-resistant, succulents are not totally safe from pests. Their water content and perhaps the water content of their soil play vital roles in attracting bugs to them.

When attracted to them, bugs can make succulents go from attractive to unsightly. In extreme cases, they could kill the plants.

Regular household insects typically pose no threat to succulents. However, some bugs not common to households might cause issues.

Types of Bugs Succulents Attract

Listed below are some common insects which succulents attract:

Mealybugs

Sedum succulent plant infested by mealybug

Mealybugs are soft-bodied gray or light-brown insects typically covered in white, cotton-like filaments. So, if you notice white tiny cottony fuzz on the stem or leaves of your succulents, it is a sign of mealybugs.

Mealybugs produce a sugary substance that attracts molds. When this happens, the plants become susceptible to secondary bacterial and fungal infections. Eventually, these infections will kill your plant.

A female mealybug lays around 600 eggs. Once these eggs hatch, they stay on your succulent and drain all the water in them. So at first, you may see only a few of them. But later, they will become many.

Scale

Another common insect that can harm your succulent is scale. This insect is of two types: the soft scale and the armored scale. Both scale types can cause damages to your succulents.

If you notice small, brown lumps on your succulent, it indicates the presence of scales. Scale insects tend to drain the sap out of succulent plants. This takes away the turgor of your plant, leaving it less attractive and prone to diseases.

Aphids

Aphids suck the stems and leaves of succulent plants. They also produce a sugary substance that makes your infested succulent vulnerable to mold.

Spider Mites

Another insect that poses a threat to your succulent is a spider mite. Spider mites are quite small, making them almost impossible to notice. Succulents damaged by spider mites end up being silvery and white as the bugs drain their sap.

The first sign of a spider mite infestation is tiny white webs on the succulent. Once you notice this, get rid of it.

Besides the webs, spider mites leave behind small, rust-colored dots on the areas where they feed. Once your succulent is damaged to this extent, it leaves the door open for other infections.

If you see any of these signs, isolate the infected plants immediately. Isolating the plant during treatment is the best course of action to prevent the spider mites from spreading to other plants.

Whiteflies

If you own leafy succulents, you might have already encountered whiteflies. The problem with whiteflies is that they secrete honeydew, leaving the infested succulent vulnerable to mold.

Gnats

Although gnats are not as harmful as the other bugs, they can be a nuisance to your succulent. Gnats are tiny, flying, black insects. They fly around your succulents or terrarium and can be really annoying.

To avoid gnats hovering over your succulents, you have to stop overwatering them. Succulents can survive droughts, so they do not need too much water. Plus, overwatering them can cause root rot.

The root rot results in a fungus infection that will attract gnats. The gnats, in turn, will bury themselves in the leaves of the succulent and end up causing severe damage.

Ants

Normally, ants are not harmful to your succulent. But when your succulents become infested by the insects mentioned earlier, the sugary substance they secret attracts the ants.

The infestation of your succulent by a large group of ants is what eventually damages them.

How Do I Keep Bugs off My Succulents?

Here are some tips for keeping bugs off your succulents:

Use Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol can kill most of the bugs mentioned above. You can try keeping the bugs off with it.

alcohol bottle spray on a monstera leaf with water drops

When using rubbing alcohol, you should not spray the leaves or plants with it as this might damage the succulent. Instead, touch the bugs with a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol. This will kill the bugs immediately.

The method described here is only suitable for minimal infestation. When the infestation is out of control, rubbing alcohol would be ineffective and not practical.

Pesticides and Insecticides

This method may not be the best solution for ridding your succulents of bugs. This is because the toxic chemicals in many insecticides and pesticides can harm your succulent.

However, if you get a non-toxic pesticide, the outcome should be better.

Removing Parts of Your Succulent

Depending on the type of bugs infesting your plant, you may need to remove some parts of your succulent. This is the best option, especially when the pests prove difficult or the succulent has suffered too much damage.

For example, when your succulent is infested with scales, you may have to remove the affected part(s). Especially when their numbers keep multiplying.

Use Beneficial Insects

You may also get rid of these bugs by bringing in other beneficial insects. Ladybugs or other types of mites, for instance, will not damage your succulents. These bugs will eat the harmful bugs harming your succulent. This option is not suitable for indoor succulents but is excellent for your outdoor succulents.

Which Bugs Are Eating My Succulents?

Several bugs have made succulents part of their diets. Feeding on succulents by these bugs can eventually damage your plant. Some of these succulent-eating bugs include:

Man and a woman checking succulents in the plant house