Mealybug

Mealybugs

Mealybugs on a flower stem, Yogyakarta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Suborder:	Sternorrhyncha
Superfamily:	Coccoidea
Family:	Pseudococcidae Heymons, 1915 ^[1]
Genera
See text ^[2]

Mealybugs are insects in the family Pseudococcidae, unarmored scale insects found in moist, warm climates. They are considered pests as they feed on plant juices of greenhouse plants, house plants and subtropical trees and also act as a vector for several plant diseases.

Distribution

Mealybugs occur in all parts of the world. Most occur naturally only in warmer parts, and get introduced into greenhouses and other buildings in cooler countries. It is unlikely that any live in the Arctic or Antarctic, except perhaps in buildings.

Description

Male individual of the hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus

Formica fusca ants tending a herd of mealybugs

A ladybird preying on mealybugs

Mealybugs on hibiscus plant

Mealybugs are sexually dimorphic: females appear as nymphs, exhibiting reduced morphology, and lack wings, although unlike many female scale insects, they often retain legs and can move. Males are smaller, gnat-like and have wings. Since mealybugs (as well as all other Hemiptera) are hemimetabolous insects, they do not undergo complete metamorphosis in the true sense of the word. However, male mealybugs do exhibit a radical change during their life cycle, changing from wingless, ovoid nymphs to wasp-like flying adults.

Mealybug females feed on plant sap, normally in roots or other crevices, and in a few cases the bottoms of stored fruit. They attach themselves to the plant and secrete a powdery wax layer (hence the name mealybug) used for protection while they suck the plant juices. In Asia, mango mealybug is considered a major menace for the mango crop. The males on the other hand are short-lived as they do not feed at all as adults and only live to fertilize the females. Male citrus mealy bugs fly to the females and resemble fluffy gnats.

Some species of mealybug lay their eggs in the same waxy layer used for protection in quantities of 50–100; other species are born directly from the female.

The most serious pests are mealybugs that feed on citrus; other species damage sugarcane, grapes, pineapple (Jahn et al. 2003), coffee trees, cassava, ferns, cacti, gardenias, papaya, mulberry, sunflower and orchids. Mealybugs only tend to be serious pests in the presence of ants because the ants protect them from predators and parasites.(citation needed) Mealybugs also infest some species of carnivorous plant such as Sarracenia (pitcher plants); in such cases it is difficult to eradicate them without repeated applications of insecticide such as diazinon. Small infestations may not inflict significant damage. In larger amounts though, they can induce leaf drop.

Fossil specimens of Acropyga genus ants have been recovered from the Burdigalian stage Dominican amber deposits and several individuals are preserved carrying the extinct mealybug genus Electromyrmococcus.^[3] These fossils represent the oldest recorded record of the symbiosis between mealybugs and Acropyga species ants.^[3]

Control

If the infested plant can tolerate the cold, place the plant on a windowsill during cold weather. This will attract the mealybugs to the leaf furthest from the window, where they can be wiped off with a cloth.
Ladybird larvae and adults feed on mealybugs, and can be used to control an infestation.
Mealybugs can be controlled using the fungus Lecanicillium lecanii.
Insecticidal soap is effective against mealybugs. It is commercially available and can be purchased online or at a supermarket.
An aqueous solution containing 50% v/v isopropyl alcohol and 1% w/v sodium dodecyl sulfate (found in most household detergents) is effective against mealybugs. Isopropyl alcohol dissolves the outer waxy covering, while the sodium dodecyl sulfate attacks the mealybugs themselves.
Diatomaceous earth can be applied around the stem of the plant. Diatomaceous earth contains small silica particles that are trapped within the joints of ants. They cause irritation and eventual death. Diatomaceous earth is especially useful for an infestation that has developed a symbiotic relationship with local ants.
Diazinon can be used, but often requires multiple applications.

Genera

Acaciacoccus
Acinicoccus
Acrochordonus
Adelosoma
Agastococcus
Albertinia
Allomyrmococcus
Allotrionymus
Amonostherium
Anaparaputo
Anisococcus
Annulococcus
Anthelococcus
Antonina
Antoninella
Antoninoides
Apodastococcus
Artemicoccus
Asaphococcus
Asphodelococcus
Asteliacoccus
Atriplicicoccus
Atrococcus
Australicoccus
Australiputo
Balanococcus
Bessenayla
Bimillenia
Birendracoccus
Boninococcus
Boreococcus
Bouhelia
Brasiliputo
Brevennia
Brevicoccus
Callitricoccus
Calyptococcus
Cannococcus
Capitisetella
Cataenococcus
Chaetococcus
Chaetotrionymus
Chileputo
Chlorococcus
Chnaurococcus
Chorizococcus
Chryseococcus
Cintococcus
Circaputo
Cirnecoccus
Clavicoccus
Coccidohystrix
Coccura
Coleococcus
Colombiacoccus
Conicosoma
Conulicoccus
Coorongia
Cormiococcus
Criniticoccus
Crisicoccus
Crocydococcus
Cryptoripersia
Cucullococcus
Cyperia
Cypericoccus
Cyphonococcus
Dawa
Delococcus
Delottococcus
Densispina
Discococcus
Distichlicoccus
Diversicrus
Drymococcus
Dysmicoccus
Eastia
Ehrhornia
Electromyrmococcus
Epicoccus
Erimococcus
Eriocorys
Erioides
Erium
Eucalyptococcus
Eumirococcus
Eumyrmococcus
Eupeliococcus
Euripersia
Eurycoccus
Exilipedronia
Farinococcus
Ferrisia
Ferrisicoccus
Fijicoccus
Fonscolombia
Formicococcus
Gallulacoccus
Geococcus
Glycycnyza
Gomezmenoricoccus
Gouxia
Greenoripersia
Grewiacoccus
Hadrococcus
Heliococcus
Heterococcopsis
Heterococcus
Heteroheliococcus
Hippeococcus
Hopefoldia
Humococcus
Hypogeococcus
Iberococcus
Idiococcus
Indococcus
Inopicoccus
Ityococcus
Kenmorea
Kermicus
Kiritshenkella
Lachnodiella
Lachnodiopsis
Lacombia
Laingiococcus
Laminicoccus
Lankacoccus
Lantanacoccus
Lenania
Leptococcus
Leptorhizoecus
Liucoccus
Lomatococcus
Londiania
Longicoccus
Maconellicoccus
Macrocepicoccus
Maculicoccus
Madacanthococcus
Madagasia
Madangiacoccus
Madeurycoccus
Malaicoccus
Malekoccus
Mammicoccus
Marendellea
Mascarenococcus
Maskellococcus
Mauricoccus
Melanococcus
Metadenopsis
Metadenopus
Miconicoccus
Mirococcopsis
Mirococcus
Miscanthicoccus
Misericoccus
Mizococcus
Mollicoccus
Mombasinia
Moystonia
Mutabilicoccus
Nairobia
Natalensia
Neochavesia
Neoclavicoccus
Neoripersia
Neosimmondsia
Neotrionymus
Nesococcus
Nesopedronia
Nesticoccus
Nipaecoccus
Novonilacoccus
Octococcus
Odacoccus
Ohiacoccus
Oracella
Orococcus
Orstomicoccus
Oxyacanthus
Palaucoccus
Palmicultor
Paludicoccus
Pandanicola
Papuacoccus
Paracoccus
Paradiscococcus
Paradoxococcus
Paraferrisia
Paramococcus
Paramonostherium
Paramyrmococcus
Parapaludicoccus
Parapedronia
Paraputo
Pararhodania
Paratrionymus
Parkermicus
Paulianodes
Pedrococcus
Pedronia
Peliococcopsis
Peliococcus
Pellizzaricoccus
Penthococcus
Peridiococcus
Phenacoccus
Phyllococcus
Pilococcus
Planococcoides
Planococcus
Pleistocerarius
Plotococcus
Poecilococcus
Polystomophora
Porisaccus
Porococcus
Prorhizoecus
Prorsococcus
Pseudantonina
Pseudococcus
Pseudorhizoecus
Pseudorhodania
Pseudoripersia
Pseudotrionymus
Puto
Pygmaeococcus
Quadrigallicoccus
Rastrococcus
Renicaula
Rhizoecus
Rhodania
Ripersia
Ritsemia
Rosebankia
Saccharicoccus
Sarococcus
Scaptococcus
Seabrina
Serrolecanium
Seyneria
Spartinacoccus
Sphaerococcus
Spilococcus
Spinococcus
Stachycoccus
Stemmatomerinx
Stipacoccus
Strandanna
Stricklandina
Strombococcus
Synacanthococcus
Syrmococcus
Tangicoccus
Tasmanicoccus
Telocorys
Tibetococcus
Tomentocera
Trabutina
Tridiscus
Trimerococcus
Trionymus
Trochiscococcus
Turbinococcus
Tylococcus
Tympanococcus
Ventrispina
Villosicoccus
Volvicoccus
Vryburgia
Xenococcus
Yudnapinna

References

↑ "Pseudococcidae Heymons, 1915". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
↑ Encyclopedia of Life
1 2 Johnson, M.S.; et al. (2001). "Acropyga and Azteca Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with Scale Insects (Sternorrhyncha: Coccoidea): 20 Million Years of Intimate Symbiosis". American Museum Novitates. 3335: 1–18. doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2001)335<0001:AAAAHF>2.0.CO;2.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pseudococcidae.

Wikispecies has information related to: Pseudococcidae

NCIPM (National Centre for Integrated Pest Management) – Cotton Mealybugs
BBC gardening advice, mealybugs
CISR – Vine Mealybug Center for Invasive Species Research summary on Vine Mealybug

On the University of Florida / Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Featured Creatures website:

Extant Hemiptera families

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
Superorder: Paraneoptera

Suborder Auchenorrhyncha

Cicadomorpha

Cercopoidea (froghoppers)	Aphrophoridae Cercopidae Clastopteridae Epipygidae Machaerotidae

Cicadoidea (cicadas)	Cicadidae Tettigarctidae (hairy cicadas)

Membracoidea	Aetalionidae Cicadellidae (leafhoppers) Melizoderidae Membracidae (typical treehoppers, thorn bugs) Myerslopiidae

Fulgoromorpha
(planthoppers)

Fulgoroidea	Acanaloniidae Achilidae Achilixiidae Cixiidae Delphacidae Derbidae Dictyopharidae Eurybrachidae Flatidae Fulgoridae (lanternflies) Gengidae Hypochthonellidae Issidae Kinnaridae Lophopidae Meenoplidae Nogodinidae Ricaniidae Tettigometridae Tropiduchidae

Suborder Sternorrhyncha

Aleyrodoidea	Aleyrodidae (whiteflies)

Aphidoidea (aphids)	Aphididae

Coccoidea (scale insects)	Aclerdidae Asterolecaniidae (pit scales) Beesoniidae (beesoniids) Carayonemidae (carayonemids) Cerococcidae (ornate pit scales) Coccidae (soft scales) Conchaspididae Dactylopiidae (cochineals) Diaspididae (armored scales) Eriococcidae (felt scales) Halimococcidae (pupillarial palm scales) Kermesidae Kerriidae (lac scales) Lecanodiaspididae (false pit scales) Margarodidae (cottony cushion scales, giant coccids, ground pearls) Micrococcidae (Mediterranean scales) Monophlebidae (giant scales) Ortheziidae (ensign scales) Phenacoleachiidae (phenacoleachiids) Phoenicococcidae (palm scales) Pseudococcidae (mealybugs) Putoidae (giant mealybugs) Stictococcidae (stictococcids)

Phylloxeroidea	Adelgidae (woolly conifer aphids) Phylloxeridae (phylloxerans)

Psylloidea	Aphalaridae Calophyidae Carsidaridae Homotomidae Phacopteronidae Psyllidae (jumping plant lice) Triozidae

Suborder Heteroptera (with Coleorrhyncha)

Dipsocoromorpha	Ceratocombidae Dipsocoridae Hypsipterygidae Schizopteridae Stemmocryptidae

Enicocephalomorpha

Enicocephaloidea	Aenictopecheidae Enicocephalidae (unique-headed bugs, gnat bugs)

Gerromorpha
(semiaquatic bugs)

Gerroidea	Gerridae (water striders) Hermatobatidae Veliidae (riffle bugs)

Hebroidea	Hebridae (velvet water bugs)

Hydrometroidea	Hydrometridae (marsh treaders or water measurers) Macroveliidae Paraphrynoveliidae

Mesovelioidea (water treaders)	Madeoveliidae Mesoveliidae

Leptopodomorpha	Saldidae (shore bugs) Leptopodidae (spiny shore bugs) Omaniidae Aepophilidae

Nepomorpha
(true water bugs)

Corixoidea	Corixidae (water boatmen)

Nepoidea	Belostomatidae (giant water bugs) Nepidae (water scorpions, needle bugs)

Ochteroidea	Gelastocoridae (toad bugs) Ochteridae (velvety shore bugs)

Aphelocheiroidea	Aphelocheiridae Potamocoridae

Naucoroidea	Naucoridae (creeping water bugs)

Notonectoidea	Notonectidae (backswimmers)

Pleoidea	Helotrephidae Pleidae (pygmy backswimmers)

Peloridiomorpha (Coleorrhyncha)	Peloridiidae

Cimicomorpha

Cimicoidea

Anthocoridae (minute pirate bugs or flower bugs)
Cimicidae (bed bugs, bat bugs)
Curaliidae (Curalium cronini)
Joppeicidae
Lasiochilidae
Lyctocoridae
Medocostidae
Microphysidae
Miridae (plant bugs, leaf bugs, grass bugs)
Nabidae (damsel bugs)
Pachynomidae
Plokiophilidae
Polyctenidae (old world bat bugs)
Reduviidae (assassin bugs, wheel bugs, thread-legged bugs)
Thaumastocoridae (royal palm bugs)
Tingidae (lace bugs)
Velocipedidae

Pentatomomorpha

Aradoidea	Aradidae (flat bugs) Termitaphididae (termite bugs)

Pentatomoidea (shield bugs)	Urostylididae Acanthosomatidae (shield bugs) Tessaratomidae (giant shield bugs and relatives) Dinidoridae Cydnidae (burrowing bugs) Thaumastellidae Parastrachiidae Corimelaenidae (includes ebony bugs) Lestoniidae Phloeidae Scutelleridae (jewel bugs or metallic shield bugs) Plataspidae Pentatomidae (stink bugs) Canopidae Megarididae

Coreoidea	Alydidae (broad-headed bugs) Coreidae (squash bugs, leaf-footed bugs) Hyocephalidae Rhopalidae (scentless plant bugs) Stenocephalidae

Lygaeoidea	Artheneidae Berytidae (stilt bugs) Blissidae Colobathristidae Cryptorhamphidae Cymidae Geocoridae Henicocoridae Heterogastridae Idiostolidae Lygaeidae (milkweed bugs, true seed bugs) Malcidae Ninidae Oxycarenidae Pachygronthidae Rhyparochromidae (atypical seed bugs) Piesmatidae (ash-grey leaf bugs)

Pyrrhocoroidea	Pyrrhocoridae (red bugs, cotton stainers) Largidae (bordered plant bugs)

Note: Coleorrhyncha are a different clade from Heteroptera. Heteroptera with Coleorrhyncha were referred to as Prosorrhyncha.

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