Pink Hibiscus Mealybug in Texas
This page will be updated as new information becomes available.
The pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, an exotic pest, has been reported in Florida (2002), Louisiana (2006), and Texas (2007).
Locations confirmed in Texas: Nueces County, Hidalgo County, Galveston County, Harris County, Brazoria County.
This mealybug is a potentially serious pest of many ornamental and agricultural crops. It feeds by sucking plant sap on more than 300 species in 74 plant families.
Features to use to identify pink hibiscus mealybugs:
- Very little wax on the body
- No long tails or waxy projections around the edge
- No stripes
- When pierced nymphs and adults bleeds a red fluid
- Eggs are bright pink to red in color
Adult female pink hibiscus mealybug with eggs.
Lance Osborne, University of Florida
Mixed pink hibiscus mealybug life stages.
Lance Osborne, University of Florida
Feeding causes new leaves to curl and giving a "bunchy top" appearance. A toxin that is injected into the plant when the mealybug feeds causes the damage. None of the other common mealybugs in Texas will cause this type of plant damage. They form dense colonies with heavy wax accumulations.
"Bunchy top" damage on hibiscus caused by pink hibiscus mealybug.
Jeffrey W. Lotz, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org.
Plant death from pink hibiscus mealybug infestation.
Jeffrey W. Lotz, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org.
Plant heavily infested with pink hibiscus mealybugs.
Jeffrey W. Lotz, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org.
Like other mealybugs, pink hibiscus mealybugs excrete honeydew, a byproduct of their feeding, which turns leaves shiny at first and then black, as sooty mold grows on the accumulated honeydew.
Females may deposit eggs in egg masses. Young nymphs emerge to find new feeding sites, especially in tender new plant growth. They disperse in wind currents, by crawling from plant to plant, movement of infested plant material or even when stuck on clothing.
Sample Submission: If you suspect a pink hibiscus mealybug infestation, use the above information to rule out common mealybug species to avoid unnecessary shipments. If you cannot rule out infestation by other common species, contact your County Extension Agent to determine if a sample is necessary for identification and confirmation. A good digital picture may be enough to rule out common mealybug species.
MANAGEMENT
Cultural Control: If necessary, prune off the most heavily infested (damaged) plants or plant parts, place in sealed bags and place in the garbage. DO NOT move infested plants or plant material as it facilitates spread of the pest to unaffected areas. Double bag any plant material that you dispose of before moving it off your property. Ants that feed on the honeydew produced by the mealybugs may guard these pests. These ants often prevent parasitic wasps from attacking their prey. Ant control may be necessary for the success of any pest control action.
Biological Control: The good news is that the United States Department of Agriculture has identified a number of predators and parasitoids that are effective in reducing pink hibiscus mealybug populations in landscapes. After the release of the parasitic wasps, pest populations are usually reduced to very low numbers. It is rare to see wild host plants with heavy pink hibiscus mealybug infestations in areas where parasitic wasps were released. The Texas Department of Agriculture is working to release beneficial insects in the areas where infestations are confirmed.
Homeowner Chemical Control: Contact insecticides are usually ineffective against mealybugs because colonies and egg masses are protected by wax accumulations. Avoid using broad-spectrum insecticides that may negatively affect beneficial insects, released or naturally occurring. Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils are the best options when applications are needed to prevent damaging population levels. Systemic insecticides may provide some control but are not always effective because eggs and young crawlers can escape exposure. Insecticides are also toxic to natural enemies that help to keep populations under control. Long-term management of this pest will rely on biological control not chemical control!
For more information about pink hibiscus mealybugs, visit http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/LSO/PinkMealybug.htm. This Web site, maintained by the University of Florida, contains much of the current information on pink hibiscus mealybug host plants, natural enemies and control options.
Related
- National Pest Alert
- University of Florida Pink Hibiscus Mealybug
- Extension publication E-454, Pink Hibiscus Mealybug: A New Pest in Texas
