Mealybugs

(Planococcus citri and P. kenya)

Credits:Biovision-Infonet

Female **mealybugs** on passionfruit leaf. Female mealybugs are 3 to 5 mm long and their body is usually covered with a waxy secretion.
(c) A.M. Varela, icipe

**Mealybugs** Life Cycle: Nymphs and adults cluster together at favorable feeding sites.
(c) Courtesy EcoPort (http://www.ecoport.org): John A. Weidhass

Mealybugs infest fruits and foliage. They can be serious pests in the warm season, if natural enemies, which usually control them, are destroyed by spraying with pesticides.

They are 3-5 mm long, soft, elongate oval and somewhat flattened

What to do:

Conserve natural enemies. Mealybugs are usually controlled by a wide range of natural enemies. However, use of pesticides may kill these natural enemies leading to mealybug outbreaks.

Leave a comment

Cancel reply