Pineapple-pest
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Dysmicoccus
mealybugs
Dysmicoccus is a genus of mealybugs in the family Pseudococcidae containing at least 110 described species. These soft-bodied scale insects are characterized by white, powdery wax secretions covering their bodies. Several species are economically significant agricultural pests, particularly of pineapple, sugarcane, and other tropical crops. Some species vector plant diseases, including pineapple wilt. The genus has a pantropical distribution with several species introduced to Florida and other regions as invasive pests.
Pseudiastata
Pseudiastata is a genus of vinegar flies in the family Drosophilidae, containing approximately 11 described species. The genus was established by Coquillett in 1908 and belongs to the subfamily Steganinae. At least one species has been documented as a predator of mealybugs in agricultural settings.
Richardiidae
Richardiidae is a small family of acalyptrate flies in the superfamily Tephritoidea, comprising over 30 genera and approximately 175 species. The family is predominantly Neotropical in distribution, with most species occurring in tropical regions of the Americas. General biology remains poorly known, though larvae of some species feed on living plant tissue, pollen, or decaying plant material. Adults are frequently observed on vegetation and are characterized by conspicuously patterned wings and often metallic body coloration.
Sufetula
Sufetula is a pantropical genus of moths in the family Crambidae (subfamily Lathrotelinae), established by Walker in 1859. The genus contains at least 32 described species, including several that are economically significant pests of cultivated plants. Sufetula anania is a destructive root borer of pineapple (Ananas comosus) in Central America, causing damage that can destroy the root system. Sufetula culshawi, described in 2024, is a previously unrecognized species associated with cultivated palms (Areca Palm, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens), spread through horticultural trade. Larvae of at least some species are root-feeders that create tunnels within plant tissues.