I was trying to stake up a leaning pineapple for a few more days of on-the-plant ripening. It still had some green and did not smell. I pushed a stake in the ground and tilted it back up and found a mess down below. Mealybugs and fire ants had eaten out a section. After I was done fuming, thinking it was never going to ripen without rotting, I took it inside and cut off the bottom. I was greeted by a wonderful aroma so I cut up the rest. Even though it still felt hard and did not smell from the outside, I have only had one pineapple better that I grew myself around three years ago.
That brings me to the question. I have around a dozen other pineapples in various stages of growth. I was not able to look because it got dark but I am sure others probably have the same infestation, hopefully at an earlier stage. What remedies are you guys using for this?