Planococcus minor (Maskell)

Malumphy, Chris, 2014, An annotated checklist of scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) of Saint Lucia, Lesser Antilles, Zootaxa 3846 (1), pp. 69-86 : 81

Planococcus minor (Maskell) — passion vine mealybug ( Fig. 1 , O)

Occurs widely in tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas, Asia, Australia and the Pacific; polyphagous, feeding on plants belonging to 71 families, including many crops and ornamentals. The full host range and distribution is unclear due to confusion between P. minor and the morphologically similar P. citri . Recorded from Saint Lucia by Cox (1989), Williams & Granara de Willink (1992) and Malumphy (2012, on Annona muricata , A. squamosa and Artocarpus altilis ( Moraceae )).

Collection data. Gros-Islet Parish: Rodney Bay, abundant on Codiaeum variegatum , 20.viii.2013. Intercepted in UK (London) on Artocarpus altilis , 10.x.2012, leg. D. Dennis, on A. muricata , 2.vii.2013, 25.v.2014, leg. J. Pollock, 29.vii.2013, leg. D. Dennis (massive population, attacked by Diadiplosis multifila (det. Keith Harris, causing 90%+ mortality, the midge was attacked by a chalcidoid parasitoid), 12.viii.2013, leg. D. Dennis (with Diadiplosis sp. ,? Cryptolaemus sp. and phytoseiid mites), and 14.iv.2014, leg. R. Waghorn .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Examples of scale insect pests in Saint Lucia. A, Ceroplastes stellifer; B, Philephedra broadwayi on soursop; C, Duplachionaspis divergens on grass; D, Fiorinia proboscidaria on lime; E, Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli on oleander; F, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona; G, Crypticerya genistae; H, Insignorthezia insignis; I, Lepidosaphes tokionis on croton; J, Pinnaspis strachani on soursop; K, Praelongorthezia praelonga on sea grape; L, Ferrisia dasylii on croton; M, Ferrisia virgata and other mealybugs on sugar apple; N, Nipaecoccus nipae on palm; O, Planococcus minor on croton. © C. Malumphy, except B, D, F, FERA