[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I have some teeny tiny white bugs on my Italian kale plants that are leaving behind sticky itsy bitsy stuff (looks line shredded paper pulp) but do not seem to be easy the plants. No signs of bites holes or shredding of leaves.

Any idea what these may be?

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Any thoughts in my mystery bug?

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Oh, sorry! Missed this question; I was in the garden, LOL!

Mealy Bugs, most likely, though I'm not seeing anything on the web that they attack Kale. They can be a real pest on houseplants too, especially if you bring in potted peppers from outside to over-winter them.

If the are Mealy Bugs and since they're on FOOD, I would go the organic route, so I'd use insecticidal soap. It may take a few applications accounting for rain and/or how persistent they can be.

If you ever get them on houseplants, a q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol will kill them deader than dead. ;)