Mealybugs and scales
in proteins and rich in sugars. In order to gain an adequate intake of protein, mealybugs must ingest large quantities of sap, getting rid of the excess [...] sale, and the reduced level of photosynthesis in the leaves also reduces flower and fruit production; in ornamental crops, the mere presence of mealybugs [...] because of the sooty mould that grows on it. Ants are also attracted by the honeydew. In fact, the honeydew with its sooty mould is usually the first sign