I'll take all the advice I can get on mealybugs. I despise them.

I Have been experimenting with using dollar store mouthwash, I use a spray bottle to spay the bugs. I don't like using pesticides inside the house and alcohol on a Qtip works well till you get bugs in the crook of the plant where the leaves are coming from, and I have found that too much alcohol in those nooks can damage the tender growth. The mouthwash seams to be somewhat effective, but you have to keep after those darn bugs no matter what you use.

Sans, I suspect that it's more likely the touch of the Q-tip rather than the alcohol that damages a growing tip. However, I will say that on new growth and on buds, where the buggers tend to go even if the plant has been treated with systemics, I use a spray of alcohol - no Q-tip - followed by a spray of plain water. The alcohol will kill the bug and then the water washes off the alcohol as I don't want to take chances with new growth and buds aborting. And no matter what, I try to keep plants I've spritzed with alcohol out of the sun for a day.

Denise in Omaha

Denise is your spray straight alcohol or do you water it down somehow? I have been struggling with my sanseveria and these darn bugs for quite some time now.

I discovered mealies on another hoya today. Very rude! I think they migrated from an African violet. I took Mr. Hoya outside, sprayed it with neem, then diluted alcohol. Then I put it in the sink and washed it all off with the sprayer and lukewarm water. Then I added some systemic and watered thoroughly. Maybe I'll try mouthwash next! Ha.

I use straight alcohol myself. I'm surprised you have problems with mealies on Sans. I grow several and can't remember ever seeing a mealybug on one.

Denise in Omaha

Denise I also have 2 Hindu Rope, but they have never contracted the darn things. I never had mealies till a friend gave me an Aspidistra that came up with him from Texas. I battled them on my small collection of Aspidistra for say a year, then they were gone, and I sighed relief. To my consternation they then showed up on a Sansevieria. Now I battle them. They have destroyed most of my S. Hahnii, and several large S. Trifaciata, Every time I think I've gotten the infestation under control it erupts again. I have even tried Bayer 3 in 1, but was likely too stingy in applying the stuff as my plants were already inside for the winter. The good news, my Aspidistra are free of them.