Tag: lebbeck mealybug

closeup of a green citrus fruit half covered with small white dusty mealybugs and elsewhere covered in a black sooty substance.

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.

Entomology Today 1 month ago 1 Comment

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.