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Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. 2%. Reserve aSB939 Pest Alert Protection and Quarantine Revised September 2008 ve Pink Hibiscus Mealy What Is It? The pink hibiscus mealybug is a serious pest of many forest and fruit trees, ornamentals, root crops, and vegetables. Thought to be native to southern Asia, the mealybug now occurs in most tropical parts of the world (including Africa, Australia, the Middle East, and Oceania) and several areas within North, Central, and South America. In the United States, the pink hibiscus mealybug was first detected in Hawaii in 1984 and later appeared in Puerto Rico \ zs and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Adult female (arrow) and immatures. Saman tree killed by heavy pink hibiscus (Photo by Marshall Johnson of the mealybug infestation. White mealybug 1990s. The pest has also been Department of Entomology, University of egg sacs cover the trunk and branches. detected in California, Florida, Hawaii at Manoa, and used with (Photo by Tony Cross of the International Louisiana, and Texas. It is now permission.) Institute of Biological Control, Centre for found throughout the Caribbean, Agriculture and Biosciences International, where it attacks many host plants Description and used with permission.) of economic importance. If the mealybug were to The pink hibiscus mealybug known as “crawlers,” which are spread across the southern is also Known as the grape very mobile. Nymphs resemble United States, damage to the mealybug, the grapevine female adults. The entire life U.S. agriculture and nursery mealybug, the pink mealybug, cycle of the pink hibiscus industries could approach $1 and the hibiscus mealybug. mealybug takes about 23 to 30 billion annually. While adults of both sexes are days to complete. soft-bodied and about one- Host Range eighth inch (3 mm) long, the Dispersal males are usually smaller than To date, the pink hibiscus the females. The females are The pink hibiscus mealybug is mealybug has been found on pink, wingless, and oval-shaped, most likely to spread through the 215 different plant species. This and their bodies are covered by movement of infested nursery encompasses a wide range a white, mealy wax. Males have stock and commercial shipments of unrelated hosts, including two long, waxy tails and a pair of of agricultural plants. While the hibiscus, citrus, coffee, wings, and are able to fly. pest is not very mobile by itself, sugarcane, teak, grapevine, The mature female lays the ovisacs, crawlers, and adult cotton, soybean, and cocoa, between 150 and 654 eggs in an males can easily migrate via wind just to name a few. The broad egg sac of white wax, known as and moving water. Mealybugs in host range of the mealybug will an ovisac. Ovisacs are usually any developmental stage can be continue to expand if the pest deposited in clusters on the carried by people and animals. spreads to new geographic twigs, branches, or bark of the Additionally, crawlers, nymphs, areas. host plant but sometimes on the and adult females have been plant’s leaves and terminal ends. known to travel short distances Eggs hatch into first-instar (first- over the ground to get to other nymphal stage) nymphs, also host plants in adjoining fields. gn There are a number of known natural enemies for the mealybug, including the coccinellid predator Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and the parasites Anagyrus kamali and Gyranusoidea indica. |n Egypt and India, biological control agents have been quite successful in suppressing the pink hibiscus mealybug. At present, 21 parasites and 41 predators are known to attack Infested hibiscus plant. (Photo by “Bunchy top” in citrus. (Photo by APHIS’ this pest worldwide. APHIS’ Dale Meyerdirk.) Dale Meyerdirk.) The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Windborne mealybugs can secretions, which are deposited Plant Health Inspection start new infestations in areas on an infested plant’s leaves and Service (APHIS) is charged where the climate is colder than stems. When fruits are infested, with protecting American the species normally prefers. they can be entirely covered agriculture from exotic plant In cooler climates, the pest with the mealybug’s white, waxy pests such as the pink hibiscus may overwinter in the soil or coating. The pest may even mealybug. APHIS has developed in protected parts of the host attack the root systems in some a successful biological plant (e.g., leaf scars, cracks plants (e.g., peanuts, potatoes). control program that is being and crevices in bark, inside implemented in the United fruit bunches, or crumpled leaf Economic Losses States and the Caribbean. The clusters). In warmer climates, the introduction of specific natural mites stay active and reproduce In many countries, the pink enemies has dramatically year-round, creating aS many as hibiscus mealybug is primarily reduced mealybug populations in 15 generations each year. restricted to Hibiscus and is infested areas. Biological control not of major concern, possibly has proven to be the best long- Injury to Living Plants because the pest’s natural term management option for this enemies provide control. pest. The pink hibiscus mealybug However, in areas without such forms colonies on the host natural control, the mealybug The U.S. Department of Agriculture is an plant. If left undisturbed, the can become a serious pest and equal opportunity provider and employer. colonies will grow into large cause significant economic masses of white, waxy deposits losses. United States Department on branches, fruiting structures, For example, in India, the of Agriculture leaves, and even whole plants, mealybug is a major pest of Animal and Plant Health including large trees. grapes, reducing yields 50 Inspection Service As it feeds on the soft tissues to 100 percent. In addition, APHIS-—81-—35-005 of the plant, the mealybug annual losses in Grenada were injects a toxic saliva that causes estimated at $3.5 million before malformed growth of leaves the establishment of a biological and shoots, stunting, and control program. In various occasionally death. Leaves show other Caribbean islands, the Me a characteristic curling, similar mealybug has attacked several to damage caused by viruses. species of ornamental plants © a 1 Heavily infested plants have that are important to the tourist shortened internodes, leading industry. Affected countries to rosetting or a “bunchy-top” have also suffered serious trade appearance. A black, sooty losses because other countries mold often develops on the would not accept shipments of mealybug’s heavy, honeydew agricultural produce.