can Mealy Bugs swim?...

[Cactusgirl]

I sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the base of the pots. Stops them mealey bugs from wandering around

[JonNo]

Well, a check on the "moat" this morning revealed about fourteen or fifteen tiny (juvenile?) bugs floating in the water... It seems for now to have worked! Curiously, the bodies were all gathered together (I suspect there is probably a scientific reason for this, though it is beyond me), my guess is that they were trying to create a living raft for Queen Mealy to walk across and make her escape?..!

These are astonishing little creatures and I'll watch with interest how they overcome this latest challenge.

[Tina]

Did you put your detergent in the water ? so these were walking from the pot, scary to think how many may be marching about as I type.

[JonNo]

Hi Tina, yes, the soapy water is in the second saucer with the pot plus first smaller saucer sitting in it. So the bugs must have emerged from the pot, climbed down into the first saucer, then attempted to climb from there into the second saucer but got overwhelmed by the soapy water...

I must admit I was more than a bit surprised how many there were given all the treatment (including re-potting and root flush) the plant has had recently.