Adult female mealybugs are small, sap-sucking soft-bodied insects that produce a white waxy body covering. The adult male has wings. Most species of mealybugs produce groups of 100 - 400 eggs protected under a layer of waxy threads, which hatch into a dust-like crawling stage. Mealybugs feed on a wide range of plant species, reducing plant growth and causing distortion of the foliage. Mealybugs also produce large amounts of honeydew, which promotes the growth of sooty mould.