Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green)

Malumphy, Chris, 2014, An annotated checklist of scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of Saint Lucia, Lesser Antilles, Zootaxa 3846 (1), pp. 69-86 : 80

Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) — pink hibiscus mealybug

Occurs widely in tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas (including the Lesser Antilles), Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific; polyphagous, feeding on plants belonging to 78 families, including many crop and ornamental plants; major economic pest. Recorded from Saint Lucia by Kairo et al. (2000), CABI (2004), EPPO (2009) and Malumphy (2012, on A. muricata ).

Collection data. Gros-Islet Parish: Gros Islet , huge infestation on A. muricata , causing serious damage and making fruit inedible, 19.viii.2013; Rodney Bay , abundant on Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, 18.viii.2013, sparse on Ixora , 22.viii.2013 . Intercepted in the UK ( London ), on A. muricata fruit, 12.xi.2012 and 23.ix.2013, leg. R. Waghorn, 2.vii.2013 and 4.viii.2013, leg. J. Pollock, 12.viii.2013 and 28.iv.2014, leg. D. Dennis . The majority of the A. muricata samples contained huge infestations of mealybugs, but there were very high levels of parasitism (up to 90%) of third-instar nymphs by the wasp Anagyrus kamali Moursi (Encrytidae) . There were also many mealybug predators present in the samples including Karnyothrips flavipes Jones (Phlaeothripidae) , Cryptolaemus sp. and other ladybird beetle larvae ( Coccinellidae ), Eupalopsellidae and Phytoseiidae predatory mites, and Diadiplosis sp. larvae feeding on the mealybug eggs.