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Mealybug

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Template:Short description Template:Automatic taxobox

Mealybugs are insects in the family Pseudococcidae, unarmored scale insects found in moist, warm habitats. Of the more than 2,000 described species, many 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. Some ants live in symbiotic relationships with them, protecting them from predators and feeding off the honeydew which they excrete.

Description

File:Mealybug moving.webm
A video of a mealybug

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 exhibit a radical change during their life cycle, changing from wingless, ovoid nymphs to wasp-like flying adults.Template:Citation needed

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 "mealy" bug) used for protection while they suck the plant juices. The males 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, banana, 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.[1] Mealybugs are also a vector of viruses in grapevines, spreading grapevine leafroll and grapevine red blotch viruses.[2]

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. In recent years, some of the mealybug species have become invasive pests in localities posing a great problem to the new agro-ecosystems. In India, Withania somnifera plant have been reported as a new reservoir host for an invasive mealybug species Phenacoccus solenopsis.[3]

Some mealybugs of the Hypogeococcus are used as biological pest controls of invasive cacti in South Africa, including Harrisia balansae, H. martinii, and Opuntia cespitosa.[4]

Fossil specimens of genus Acropyga ants have been recovered from the Burdigalian stage Dominican amber deposits and several individuals are preserved carrying the extinct mealybug genus Electromyrmococcus.[5] These fossils represent the oldest record of the symbiosis between mealybugs and Acropyga species ants.[5]

Control methods

Insecticides such as pyrethroids (e.g. permethrin, bifenthrin, cyfluthrin) have been used for control,[6] but this approach is often considered counter-productive due to mortality of mealybug natural enemies.

Some gardeners use species of predatory beetles (e.g. Cryptolaemus) and green lacewings (Chrysopidae) larvae to control mealybug infestations, as the larval lacewings are voracious predators of aphids and other small insects.[7]

Metabolism

Mealybugs have a highly sophisticated metabolism that involves not one but two bacterial endosymbionts, one inside the other. The endosymbionts make essential amino acids that the mealybug is not able to acquire directly from its diet. Genetically, mealybugs rely on a "mosaic" of metabolic pathways in which proteins are transported across membranes between what were once independent organisms.[8]

Use in the textile industry

In Oaxaca, Mexico, where mealybugs are known as cochinilla algodonosa, the insects are intentionally cultivated and farmed. Dried mealybugs are ground into a dust, producing a red dye that is used to colour fabrics, in artist's paints, and in cosmetics.

Note that while cochineals are commonly called mealybugs, and they share a very similar physical appearance and size, mealybugs (Pseudococcidae) are in a different family to cochineals (Dactylopiidae), of which there are several species. Template:Citation needed


Genera

Template:Div col The following are included in BioLib.cz:[9]

  1. Acaciacoccus Template:Small
  2. Acinicoccus Template:Small
  3. Acrochordonus Template:Small
  4. Adelosoma Template:Small
  5. Aemulantonina Template:Small
  6. Agastococcus Template:Small
  7. Albertinia Template:Small
  8. Allococcus Template:Small
  9. Allomyrmococcus Template:Small
  10. Allotrionymus Template:Small
  11. Amonostherium Template:Small
  12. Anaparaputo Template:Small
  13. Anisococcus Template:Small
  14. Annulococcus Template:Small
  15. Anthelococcus Template:Small
  16. Antonina Template:Small
  17. Antoninella Template:Small
  18. Antoninoides Template:Small
  19. Apodastococcus Template:Small
  20. Archeomyrmococcus Template:Small
  21. Artemicoccus Template:Small
  22. Asaphococcus Template:Small
  23. Asphodelococcus Template:Small
  24. Asteliacoccus Template:Small
  25. Atriplicicoccus Template:Small
  26. Atrococcus Template:Small
  27. Australicoccus Template:Small
  28. Australiputo Template:Small
  29. Balachowskya Template:Small
  30. Balanococcus Template:Small
  31. Benedictycoccina Template:Small
  32. Bessenayla Template:Small
  33. Birendracoccus Template:Small
  34. Bolbococcus Template:Small
  35. Boninococcus Template:Small
  36. Boreococcus Template:Small
  37. Borneococcus Template:Small
  38. Bouhelia Template:Small
  39. Brevennia Template:Small
  40. Brevicoccus Template:Small
  41. Calicoccus Template:Small
  42. Callitricoccus Template:Small
  43. Calyptococcus Template:Small
  44. Cannococcus Template:Small
  45. Casuarinaloma Template:Small
  46. Cataenococcus Template:Small
  47. Caulococcus Template:Small
  48. Chaetococcus Template:Small
  49. Chaetotrionymus Template:Small
  50. Chloeoon Template:Small
  51. Chlorizococcus Template:Small[10]
  52. Chlorococcus Template:Small
  53. Chryseococcus Template:Small
  54. Cintococcus Template:Small
  55. Circaputo Template:Small
  56. Clavicoccus Template:Small
  57. Coccidella Template:Small
  58. Coccidohystrix Template:Small
  59. Coccura Template:Small
  60. Coleococcus Template:Small
  61. Conicoccus Template:Small
  62. Conicosoma Template:Small
  63. Conulicoccus Template:Small
  64. Coorongia Template:Small
  65. Cormiococcus Template:Small
  66. Crenicoccus Template:Small
  67. Criniticoccus Template:Small
  68. Crisicoccus Template:Small
  69. Crocydococcus Template:Small
  70. Cryptoripersia Template:Small
  71. Cucullococcus Template:Small
  72. Cyperia Template:Small
  73. Cypericoccus Template:Small
  74. Cyphonococcus Template:Small
  75. Dawa Template:Small
  76. Delococcus Template:Small
  77. Delottococcus Template:Small
  78. Dicranococcus Template:Small
  79. Discococcus Template:Small
  80. Distichlicoccus Template:Small
  81. Diversicrus Template:Small
  82. Doryphorococcus Template:Small
  83. Drymococcus Template:Small
  84. Dysmicoccus Template:Small
  85. Eastia Template:Small
  86. Ehrhornia Template:Small
  87. Epicoccus Template:Small
  88. Eriocorys Template:Small
  89. Erioides Template:Small
  90. Erium Template:Small
  91. Eucalyptococcus Template:Small
  92. Eumirococcus Template:Small
  93. Eumyrmococcus Template:Small
  94. Eupeliococcus Template:Small
  95. Euripersia Template:Small
  96. Eurycoccus Template:Small
  97. Exallomochlus Template:Small
  98. Exilipedronia Template:Small
  99. Extanticoccus Template:Small
  100. Farinococcus Template:Small
  101. Ferrisia Template:Small
  102. Ferrisicoccus Template:Small
  103. Fijicoccus Template:Small
  104. Fonscolombia Template:Small
  105. Formicococcus Template:Small
  106. Gallulacoccus Template:Small
  107. Geococcus Template:Small
  108. Glycycnyza Template:Small
  109. Gouxia Template:SmallTemplate:Efn
  110. Gomezmenoricoccus Template:Small
  111. Greenoripersia Template:Small
  112. Grewiacoccus Template:Small
  113. Grewiacococcus Template:Small
  114. Hadrococcus Template:Small
  115. Hambletonrhizoecus Template:Small
  116. Heliococcus Template:Small
  117. Hemisphaerococcus Template:Small
  118. Heterococcopsis Template:Small
  119. Heterococcus Template:Small
  120. Hippeococcus Template:Small
  121. Hopefoldia Template:Small
  122. Hordeolicoccus Template:Small
  123. Humoccoccus Template:Small
  124. Humococcus Template:Small
  125. Hypogeococcus Template:Small[4]
  126. Iberococcus Template:Small
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  128. Inopicoccus Template:Small
  129. Ityococcus Template:Small
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  133. Kiritshenkella Template:Small
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  147. Londiania Template:Small
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  149. Maconellicoccus Template:Small
  150. Macrocepicoccus Template:Small
  151. Macrocerococcus Template:Small
  152. Maculicoccus Template:Small
  153. Madacanthococcus Template:Small
  154. Madagasia Template:Small
  155. Madangiacoccus Template:Small
  156. Madeurycoccus Template:Small
  157. Malaicoccus Template:Small
  158. Malekoccus Template:Small
  159. Mammicoccus Template:Small
  160. Marendellea Template:Small
  161. Mascarenococcus Template:Small
  162. Maskellococcus Template:Small
  163. Mediococcus Template:Small
  164. Melanococcus Template:Small
  165. Metadenopsis Template:Small
  166. Metadenopus Template:Small
  167. Miconicoccus Template:Small
  168. Mirococcopsis Template:Small
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  170. Miscanthicoccus Template:Small
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  172. Mollicoccus Template:Small
  173. Mombasinia Template:Small
  174. Moystonia Template:Small
  175. Mutabilicoccus Template:Small
  176. Naiacoccus Template:Small
  177. Nairobia Template:Small
  178. Natalensia Template:Small
  179. Neochavesia Template:Small
  180. Neoclavicoccus Template:Small
  181. Neorhizoecus Template:Small
  182. Neoripersia Template:Small
  183. Neosimmondsia Template:Small
  184. Neotrionymus Template:Small
  185. Nesococcus Template:Small
  186. Nesopedronia Template:Small
  187. Nesticoccus Template:Small
  188. Nipaecoccus Template:Small
  189. Octococcus Template:Small
  190. Odacoccus Template:Small
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  192. Oracella Template:Small
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  194. Oudablis Template:Small
  195. Oxyacanthus Template:Small
  196. Palaucoccus Template:Small
  197. Palmicultor Template:Small
  198. Paludicoccus Template:Small
  199. Pandanicola Template:Small
  200. Papuacoccus Template:Small
  201. Paracoccus Template:Small
  202. Paradiscococcus Template:Small
  203. Paradoxococcus Template:Small
  204. Paraferrisia Template:Small
  205. Paramococcus Template:Small
  206. Paramonostherium Template:Small
  207. Paramyrmococcus Template:Small
  208. Parapaludicoccus Template:Small
  209. Parapedronia Template:Small
  210. Paraputo Template:Small
  211. Pararhodania Template:Small
  212. Paratrionymus Template:Small
  213. Pedrococcus Template:Small
  214. Pedronia Template:Small
  215. Peliococcopsis Template:Small
  216. Peliococcus Template:Small
  217. Pellizzaricoccus Template:Small
  218. Penthococcus Template:Small
  219. Peridiococcus Template:Small
  220. Perystrix Template:Small
  221. Phenacoccopsis Template:Small
  222. Phenacoccus Template:Small
  223. Pilococcus Template:Small
  224. Planococcoides Template:Small
  225. Planococcus Template:Small
  226. Pleistocerarius Template:Small
  227. Plotococcus Template:Small
  228. Poecilococcus Template:Small
  229. Polystomophora Template:Small
  230. Porococcus Template:Small
  231. Promyrmococcus Template:Small
  232. Prorhizoecus Template:Small
  233. Prorsococcus Template:Small
  234. Pseudantonina Template:Small
  235. Pseudococcus Template:Small
  236. Pseudorhizoecus Template:Small
  237. Pseudorhodania Template:Small
  238. Pseudoripersia Template:Small
  239. Pseudotrionymus Template:Small
  240. Pygmaeococcus Template:Small
  241. Quadrigallicoccus Template:Small
  242. Radicoccus Template:Small
  243. Rastrococcus Template:Small
  244. Renicaula Template:Small
  245. Rhizoecus Template:Small
  246. Rhodania Template:Small
  247. Ripersia Template:Small
  248. Ritsemia Template:Small
  249. Saccharicoccus Template:Small
  250. Saliococcus Template:Small
  251. Sarococcus Template:Small
  252. Scaptococcus Template:Small
  253. Seabrina Template:Small
  254. Serrolecanium Template:Small
  255. Seyneria Template:Small
  256. Sinococcus Template:Small
  257. Spartinacoccus Template:Small
  258. Sphaerococcus Template:Small
  259. Spilococcus Template:Small
  260. Stachycoccus Template:Small
  261. Stemmatomerinx Template:Small
  262. Stipacoccus Template:Small
  263. Strandanna Template:Small
  264. Strombococcus Template:Small
  265. Synacanthococcus Template:Small
  266. Syrmococcus Template:Small
  267. Takahashicoccus Template:Small
  268. Tasmanicoccus Template:Small
  269. Thaimyrmococcus Template:Small
  270. Tomentocera Template:Small
  271. Trabutina Template:Small
  272. Trabutinella Template:Small
  273. Trechocorys Template:Small
  274. Tridiscus Template:Small
  275. Trimerococcus Template:Small
  276. Trionymus Template:Small
  277. Trochiscococcus Template:Small
  278. Tylococcus Template:Small
  279. Tympanococcus Template:Small
  280. Ventrispina Template:Small
  281. Villosicoccus Template:Small
  282. Volvicoccus Template:Small
  283. Vryburgia Template:Small
  284. Xenococcus Template:Small
  285. Yudnapinna Template:Small

Template:Div col end Extinct genera:

Note:

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References

Template:Reflist

Further reading

  • Jahn, G. C. and J. W. Beardsley (1994). "Big-headed ants, Pheidole megacephala: Interference with the biological control of gray pineapple mealybugs". In D.F. Williams [ed.] Exotic Ants: Biology, Impact and Control of Introduced Species. Boulder, Col.: Westview Press, 199–205. Template:ISBN.
  • Jahn, G. C. and J. W. Beardsley (1998). "Presence/absence sampling of mealybugs, ants, and major predators in pineapple". J. Plant Protection in the Tropics 11(1):73–79.
  • Jahn, Gary C., J. W. Beardsley, and H. González-Hernández (2003). "A review of the association of ants with mealybug wilt disease of pineapple". Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society. 36:9–28.

Template:Hemiptera Template:Taxonbar

  1. ↑ Template:Cite journal
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Template:Cite journal
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  5. ↑ a b Template:Cite journal
  6. ↑ Template:Cite report
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Template:Cite journal
  9. ↑ BioLib.cz: family: mealybugs - Pseudococcidae Heymons, 1915 (retrieved 14 May 2024)
  10. ↑ GBIF Chorizococcus McKenzie, 1960
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