Successful Management of the pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, in the Coachella Valley of California

Authors: PERRING, THOMAS - University Of California; Andreason, Sharon; ROLTSCH, WILLIAM - California Department Of Food And Agriculture; TRIAPITSYN, SERGUEI - University Of California; GANJISAFFAR, FATEMEH - University Of California, Davis

Submitted to: Contributions of Classical Biocontrol to the U.S. Food Security, Forestry, and Biodiversity, 1985-2022
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/14/2013
Publication Date: 6/1/2022
Citation: Perring, T., Andreason, S.A., Roltsch, W., Triapitsyn, S., Ganjisaffar, F. 2022. Successful Management of the pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, in the Coachella Valley of California. Contributions of Classical Biocontrol to the U.S. Food Security, Forestry, and Biodiversity, 1985-2022. 151. https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/files/23194.pdf.

Interpretive Summary: n/a

Technical Abstract: The pink hibiscus mealybug (PHM), Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is a tropical and subtropical pest with a long history of invasion and establishment in new regions across the globe. In 2014, PHM was found to be widespread in the urban regions of the Coachella Valley of California, killing a large number of landscape trees and shrubs and posing a serious threat to the agricultural industries in the valley. Shortly thereafter, a biological control program was initiated against the pest. This chapter reviews the success of the PHM biological control program in the Coachella Valley and highlights the IPM program established for PHM and the scientific insights gained as a result of the project.