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Pink Hibiscus Mealybug

Jul 30

Written by: bugmaster
7/30/2009 1:49 PM

Pink Hibiscus Mealybug (PHM) is a serious pest of agricultural and vegetable crops, fruit trees and ornamental plants. It was first detected in south Florida in 2002 and has since spread throughout the state. Most hibiscus plants in our area have some damage from PHM. The name is derived from the color of the insect itself, not that it attacks only pink hibiscus. This insect is tiny (3mm) sap-sucking mealybug that forms large colonies of white cotton like masses on the leaves and branches. A leaf and flower distortion called Bunchy Top is a characteristic symptom of PHM damage.

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri larva (biological control agent)

Pink Hibiscus Mealybug was studied for years in the Caribbean Islands by scientists looking for controls before it got to the United States. They found biological control agents worked better than chemical control. A tiny wasp called Anagyrus kamali and a predatory beetle called Cryptolaemus montrouzieri provided 95-98% control after one year. The use of foliar applied pesticides on the plants destroys the biological agents and does little to control the PHM, therefore foliar spraying is not recommended. However, soil applied systemic insecticides are the only recommended chemical treatment. Neither biological or chemical control will completely eliminate damage to the plants. The bottom line is Pink Hibiscus Mealybug is here to stay and some damage is going to have to be accepted on hibiscus.

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