I know this sounds like a stupid idea, but...
I found a small white ball of fluff that had fallen out of a tree. It was pitifully squirming on the ground so I picked it up, put it on a paper plate with a leaf, and went to identify it. It was a mealybug. Now it resides in a jar with some stems and leaves fresh-snipped from my hibiscus, and some hosta and beech leaves.
Questions:
--Can it be fed like this? Does it absolutely NEED live plants, or can I simply feed with fresh cut stems, or maybe sugar water-covered twigs?
--What plants does it like? I'm currently feeding hibiscus.
--Will it create a colony on its own, or do I need to find more mealybugs and add them so they can breed?
--Does it need ants to survive? Even when sheltered from predators?
Thanks,
A Happy Seedling