The citrus mealybug is a common pest of citrus primarily in greenhouses, and of several ornamental plants in Florida. It has been recognized as a difficult-to-control pest in Europe since 1813 (where it is called the greenhouse mealybug) and in the United States since 1879 (Anonymous 2007).

Planococcus citri, commonly known as the citrus mealybug, is a species of mealybugs native to Asia. It has been introduced to the rest of the world, including Europe, the Americas, and Oceania, as an agricultural pest. It is associated with citrus, but it attacks a wide range of crop plants, ornamental plants, and wild flora. [1]

Mealybugs are soft, oval, flat, distinctly segmented, and covered with a white, mealy wax that extends into spines (filaments) along the body margin and the posterior end. The species differ mainly in the thickness and length of the waxy filaments.

The best approach to managing mealybugs is to choose plants known to be less prone to problems, inspect plants for mealybugs before bringing them onto your property, and rely on biological control and cultural practices to keep mealybug numbers in check.

Jan 17, 2025 · Outdoors, citrus mealybugs do not survive our winters here in North Carolina. Mealybugs suck out sap and excrete honeydew, a sweet sticky liquid. Citrus mealybugs lay eggs in a dense, waxy mass called the ovisac.

Citrus Mealybug is a shorttailed mealybug common to all kinds of greenhouse plants and plants outdoors in warm areas. It is attacks many houseplants - African Violets, Cactus, Succulents, Jade and Spider plants.

Mar 31, 2022 · Biological control is the most effective method to control citrus mealybugs. Some parasitoid wasps as well as lady beetles, predaceous mites, lacewings, mealybug destroyers, and syrphid flies can aid in mealybug control.

The citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri) has a world-wide distribution and many and diverse host plants. In temperate regions of the world this mealybug poses a problem in greenhouse horticulture, and in the tropics and sub-tropics on outdoor crops.

Common Name: Citrus mealybug Scientific Name: Planococcus citri (Risso) Order: Homoptera. Description: Female and nymphal mealybugs are 1/8-inch or smaller, soft, oval wingless insects covered with white fluffy wax, ringed with white wax tufts, and have long tails. Males are tiny, gnat-like insects with one pair of wings.

The citrus mealybug has been recognized as a pest of citrus and ornamental plants in Europe since 1813 (where it is called the greenhouse mealybug) and in the United States since 1879. Because female citrus mealybugs have no wings, the …