Toxicity of Jatropha and Neem Oil Combination on Pink Hibiscus Mealybug

Maconellicoccus hirsutus (pink hibiscus mealybug) is a polyphagous pest species reported in about 350 species of host plants worldwide. The chemical control method is still the most used for the control of agricultural pests. In view of this, we aim to evaluate the potential of the concentration of oils extracted from the species Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Jatropha curcas (Jatropha) on M. hirsutus, aiming at a management alternative for the pest. The experiments were carried out in air-conditioned chambers at a temperature of 25 ± 1ºC, relative humidity of 70 ± 10% and a photophase of 12h. The concentration 3% (v v-1) (defined in preliminary dilution tests) was used in the tests, with 11 interaction ratios between the oils. Mortality was assessed daily up to 72 hours after spraying. The application was carried out in two ways: indirect - on the food and walking surface; and direct - about insects. The indirect application caused higher levels of mortality in relation to the direct application. However, there was no significant difference between the concentrations for the indirect application. In the form of direct application, the combination of 60:40% neem oil and jatropha oil was the treatment that provided the highest mortality of the M. hirsutus (86.21%). The combinations between neem and jatropha oils demonstrated the potential to control M. hirsutus in both routes of application, being an alternative for the management of this pest.

On the origin of Anagyrus callidus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), a parasitoid of pink hibiscus mealybug Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

Anagyrus callidus Triapitsyn, Andreason & Perring (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), recently described from southern California, USA and Mexico, is a primary parasitoid of the pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). This wasp species previously was misidentified as Anagyrus kamali Moursi, which was introduced and released as such in the United States (California and Florida) and Mexico. In this paper, the origin of A. callidus is shown to be from Taiwan, based on differences in the morphology and molecular sequences of voucher specimens of an earlier colony of the misidentified A. kamali from Puerto Rico (released in August 2002 in southern Florida), and specimens that originated in southern Taiwan.

New Records of Parasitoids Hymenopteran (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) Associated With Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in the State of São Paulo

Survey of hymenoptera parasitoids of pink-hibiscus-mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green, 1908) infesting Hibiscus rosa-sinensis was conducted in two municipalities of state of São Paulo, Brazil from August 2016 to August 2017. Nine species of chalcidoid wasps were obtained: Anagyrus kamali Moursi (1948); Anagyrus sp. aff. mirtesae Noyes and Menezes (2000); Anagyrus sp.; Bothriocraera bicolor Compere and Zinna (1955); Cheiloneurus sp., Gyranusoidea deionae Noyes (2000); Prochiloneurus sp. (Encyrtidae); Aprostocetus sp. (Eulophidae); and Chartocerus sp. (Signiphoridae). Anagyrus kamali and G. deionae were the most frequent species, corresponding to 67.26% and 22.62% of the parasitoids, respectively. Bothriocraera bicolor, Chartocerus and G. deionae are recorded for the first time associated with M. hirsutus. Gyranusoidea deionae and B. bicolor are recorded for the first time in Brazil. The seasonal study of M. hirsutus and its parasitoids was carried out in January to December 2017on 16 hibiscus plants, aligned in the hedge in the experimental area of the FCAV/UNESP in Jaboticabal, SP. For this purpose, ovisacs, nymphs and adults of mealybug were counting on infested plants and the adult parasitoids collected in Möerick traps. Maconellicoccus hirsutus was observed during the periods of January-March and October-December, with the highest infestation in January and February. In the traps, a total of 92 specimens of pink-mealybug parasitoids were obtained: 65% belonging to A. kamali and 35% to G. deionae.

Lethal and Sub-Lethal Effects of Insecticides on the Pink Hibiscus Mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

The pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is a pest of many plants, and a new problem on dates in California. The effects of seven insecticides and water on different life stages of this mealybug were studied to identify the best material for control. Water did not have any significant effect on mealybugs, but the insecticide treatments significantly affected all life stages tested. The egg hatch rate ranged from 28.5% to 17.2% for spirotetramat, bifenthrin, flupyradifurone, fenpropathrin, and buprofezin treatments, and was lower for sulfoxaflor (2.8%) and acetamiprid (0.1%). Despite high survival of neonate crawlers in the non-treated control and water treatments, 53.1% and 34.6% survived in the spirotetramat and buprofezin treatments, respectively; survival was zero in the other treatments. Spirotetramat and buprofezin caused very low mortality of nymphs in the first day post-treatment, but mortality significantly increased over time and reached 42.8% and 50.6% by day 6, respectively. The other treatments were highly toxic to the nymphs (79.4–99.4% on day 6). Insecticides also had a significant effect on the feeding ability of nymphs. By day 6 after treatment, 73.9% to 100% of nymphs treated with different insecticides stopped feeding although they were still alive. Insecticides showed no effect on the mortality of adult females, but the percentages of ovipositing females were significantly reduced (51.1% to 10.6%) in all insecticide treatments, except buprofezin, which was not statistically different from water and the non-treated control. In the process of our studies, we identified abnormalities in the appearance of eggs from females treated with various insecticides, and these aberrant eggs are described.

Population fluctuations in the pink hibiscus mealybug and its natural enemies in Annona squamosa (Annonaceae) in Roraima, Brazil

ABSTRACT Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae), a species of economic interest, especially for fruit plants, is expanding on the South American continent. Information about the population dynamics of this pest associated with control by natural enemies and cultural practices is fundamental for its management. Our objective was to study the population fluctuations in M. hirsutus and its natural enemies in a sugar-apple (Annona squamosa) orchard in Roraima, northern Brazil. Trees were evaluated monthly over a 12-month period. Infestation rates by M. hirsutus and its parasitism were also estimated for potential host plants around the study area. Highest infestation occurred in August and February-March. Alternative hosts were infested during the off-season, mainly fruit. Lacewings and the parasitoid Anagyrus kamali (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae) were abundant natural enemies. Average parasitism by A. kamali in fruits was 50%, with highest rates in periods of greatest infestation by M. hirsutus. Fruitification pruning reduced M. hirsutus populations.

Illustrated accounts of coccinellid predators of Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Pseudococcidae) on mulberry in India, with description of a new species of Scymnus Kugelann (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) from West Bengal

The pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), is a major pest of mulberry (Morus alba L.), the sole host of the mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori (L.), which is a source of livelihood to millions of sericulture farmers in India. Several predators, mainly Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), have been reported to feed on M. hirsutus on mulberry. Coccinellid predators of M. hirsutus collected on mulberry from different parts of India are illustrated here with brief diagnostic notes to facilitate their identification. An account of mycophagous species of coccinellids commonly found on mulberry and misreported as predators of mulberry pests is also given with illustrations. Scymnus (Pullus) latifolius sp. nov., a promising predator of M. hirsutus, hitherto misidentified and reported as Scymnus pallidicollis Mulsant, is described and illustrated from West Bengal, India, with detailed biological notes. Keiscymnus taiwanensis Yang & Wu, 1972 is reduced to a new junior synonym of Scymnus pallidicollis Mulsant, 1853 (syn. nov.). Illeis bielawskii Ghorpade, 1976 is found to be a valid species and removed from synonymy with I. bistigmosa Mulsant, 1850 (stat. rev.).

The pink hibiscus mealybug Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Greece

SummaryThe invasive pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is reported for first time in Greece. Individuals of the mealybug were found infesting Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Linnaeus) (Malvaceae) in private and public gardens in the urban environment in Rhodes, Dodecanese islands, East Greece. This is the first report of genus Maconellicoccus in Greece.