Hibiscus mealybug (hemiptera: pseudococcidae)- biology, field guide, North American host plants, and current management prospects

Authors: OLABIYI, DAVID - University Of Florida; MIDDLETON, ERIC - University Of Florida; Ahmed, Muhammad; OSBORNE, LANCE - University Of Florida; McKenzie, Cindy; DIEPENBROCK, LAUREN - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Journal of Integrated Pest Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/16/2022
Publication Date: 2/2/2023
Citation: Olabiyi, D., Middleton, E., Ahmed, M.Z., Osborne, L., Mckenzie, C.L., Diepenbrock, L.M. 2023. Hibiscus mealybug (hemiptera: pseudococcidae)- biology, field guide, North American host plants, and current management prospects. Journal of Integrated Pest Management. 14 (1). https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmac029.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmac029

Interpretive Summary: Lebbeck or hibiscus mealybug is a polyphagous agricultural pest that attacks food, forage, ornamental, and fiber crops, especially citrus. In citrus-growing areas of Jordan, where lebbeck mealybug had been a pest prior to the introduction of biological controls, it caused such extensive damage that groves were burned to eradicate it. Lebbeck mealybug was reported for the first time in Florida in late 2009 from a natural area on dodder vine in Palm Beach County, Florida. It was not until 2019 that severe outbreaks were found on commercial citrus for the first time in the United States in Highlands County, Florida. Recently, concern about this pest’s potential for damage has risen with the discovery of lebbeck mealybug in a hemp production greenhouse and an organic U- pick blueberry farm. Our study provides its biology, North American host plants, a field guide, and current management prospects.

Technical Abstract: Hibiscus mealybug, Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead), is an invasive, highly polyphagous pest that has recently established in Florida. This pest is historically known to heavily impact citrus production in other citrus producing regions and has similarly negatively impacted citrus groves in several counties. Hibiscus mealybug was first found impacting citrus in one county in 2019 and has rapidly spread across multiple counties and onto additional hosts in only a few years. Here we review the known distribution and biology of hibiscus mealybug, including a description of life stages, known host plants in Florida, and management options. Additionally, a field diagnostics guide is presented to detect the pest early and prevent future introductions to new locations and plant hosts. We anticipate that the information shared here will help in slowing its spread in the USA.