"0tterbot" wrote in message
...
Sounds like mealy bug. Google for some pictures and see if that is it.

i second it sounds like mealy bug. the o.p. can smear a bit - if there is
purple there under the fluff, it's mealy bug for sure.
kylie

sigh. let me try that again.

i second that it sounds like mealy bug, OR woolly aphid. if the o.p. can
smear a bit & there's purple, it's _woolly aphid_ for sure. (i'm not sure
what colour you get if you smear mealy bug!)

mealy bug looks more bug-like on close inspection (they are bigger). woolly
aphid tends to just look like dots or clumps of bizarre fluff, until you've
seen them once & recognise them. afaik, treatment is the same anyway - white
oil.
kylie