Tag: lebbeck mealybug

Green Light: New ID Test Ready for Invasive Mealybug Pest

Identifying mealybug species is often a challenge, but the hibiscus mealybug (Nipaecoccus viridis) turns green in an alkaline solution—a unique indicator among mealybug species in Florida. Researchers have turned this discovery into a safe, accessible field diagnostic kit to aid growers and IPM pros in slowing the spread of this invasive pest.

Entomology Today 3 days ago Leave a Comment

Small but Destructive: Hibiscus Mealybug Emerges as Concerning Pest of Florida Fruits, Ornamentals, Some Row Crops

The invasive hibiscus mealybug (Nipaecoccus viridis) has been documented on 51 host plants in Florida—so far. A new guide in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management provides one of the first in-depth looks at this emerging pest.

Here We Go Again: Another Invasive Pest in Florida Citrus

The mealybug species Nipaecoccus viridis, known as the lebbeck mealybug, is originally from Asia and was first found in Florida back in 2009, but in late 2018 it was found infesting citrus groves in the state. The author of a new report in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management discusses the implications of its arrival and the management options that are currently available and under evaluation.