Lady beetle larvae in Scymnus and Cryptolaemus are waxy or woolly and white:


Whether they are mealybugs or are eating mealybugs will probably become clear soon!

Look at the wax on the ladybug larvae, then look at these. There are also crawlers, the small reddish things. The larger specimens are adult females. Also, ladybug larvae don't leave residue behind on plants, but mealybugs do. I had to do some more research after I saw these and now I am certain they are mealybugs.

I believe they are Striped Mealybugs, Ferrisia virgata which is found in florida. (Which is also the first picture in my previous post.)

http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/LSO/mealybug/STRIPED.jpg

Description here on a university of florida website:

http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/LSO/Mealybugs.htm

Since I don't know what Scymnus lady beetle larvae look like in the earliest instars, I thought they might start out with less wax and look more silky. However, you clearly know your mealybugs!

Gotta find some Scymnus to rear, I'd love to know what they look like at egg hatch...

Post plenty of pictures, I'd like to see it too :) I bet they're just fleshy and don't have wax at first, and then when they molt they probably have to excrete all new wax. I'd love to do this stuff too but unfortunately I am no good at rearing insects, cats seem to be the only animals I can take care of well :-P