Citrus mealybug

Definition

A polyphagous mealybug species, Planococcus citri (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), native to Asia and now cosmopolitan in tropical and subtropical regions. It is a major agricultural pest of citrus, grapevines, ornamentals, and greenhouse crops, feeding on phloem sap and excreting honeydew that promotes sooty mold growth. Females are oval, soft-bodied, and covered in white, powdery wax; males are short-lived and winged. Reproduction is typically parthenogenetic in invaded ranges.

Etymology

From the primary host plant genus Citrus (L.) and the common name 'mealybug' referring to the powdery wax secretion.

Example

In California greenhouses, citrus mealybug infestations on poinsettias require biological control using the parasitoid Leptomastix dactylopii or the predator Cryptolaemus montrouzieri.

Synonyms

• Planococcus citri

Related Terms

• mealybug
• Pseudococcidae
• hemipteran
• phloem feeder
• honeydew
• Sooty mold
• Biological control
• quarantine pest

Usage Notes

The common name is sometimes applied loosely to other Planococcus species or even other mealybugs on citrus, but properly refers only to P. citri. Distinguish from the grape mealybug (Pseudococcus maritimus) and long-tailed mealybug (Pseudococcus longispinus), which overlap in host range but differ in wax filament patterns and life history. In integrated pest management, scouting focuses on female aggregations in leaf axils and fruit calyxes.