Bureau of Methods Development &
Biological Control
Bureau Chief: Dr. Trevor Smith, smitht2@doacs.state.fl.us
Assistant Bureau Chief: Abbie Jo Fox, foxa@doacs.state.fl.us
Methods Home | PHM Pest Alert | PHM Maps
Pink Hibiscus Mealybug Biological Control
Biological Scientist: Lee Trester, trestel@doacs.state.fl.us
Project Staff
Katherine Okins
Jenny Gavilanez-Slone
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Introduction
The pink hibiscus mealybug (PHM), Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), is an invasive insect species which poses a serious economic threat to the agriculture and nursery industry, in addition to residential plantings or landscapes, attacking more than 200 species of plants including: fruit trees, vegetables, ornamentals and forest trees. PHM is the only mealybug species to have a worldwide distribution, spanning over 52 countries and islands including the United States.
This mealybug, originally from Asia, was found in Hawaii in 1984, Grenada in 1994 and has since spread throughout the Caribbean area and was found in the Imperial Valley of California in 1999. On June 6, 2002, a severe infestation of PHM was found on two hibiscus plants in Miramar, Broward County.
Initial surveys revealed that the Florida infestation encompassed at least 16-20 square miles in the Miramar area. On June 21, in cooperation with USDA-APHIS, California and Puerto Rico, a comprehensive biological control program was initiated. About 8,000 parasitoids were initially released, and through June 2005 a total of about 658,000 Anagyrus kamali and 818,400 Gyranusoidea indica have been released in 1,994 different sites.
Currently, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry (FDACS, DPI), in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture is participating in a biological control program to help control the spread of the insect in the US. This program is designed to mass produce the natural enemies of the pink hibiscus mealybug and use these natural enemies to help control the spread of PHM. FDACS, DPI has established an insectary to mass produce two parasitic wasps and one predatory beetle. The two species of wasps, Anagyrus kamali and Gyranusoidia indica, are small and stingless, they use PHM as a host to complete their life cycle. In addition, the predatory beetle, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, will prey upon PHM, killing them in the process. Both the parasites and the predator used in this project are also used in other countries and islands in the Caribbean to control the spread of the pink hibiscus mealybug. These parasites and the predator are well documented to be effective towards control of PHM while remaining harmless to people, plants and other animals.
 Cryptolaemus montrouzieri |
 Anagyrus kamali |
The Facility
The PHM Biological Control insectary is located in Gainesville, FL and is currently the staging area for the mass rearing and shipping of these natural enemies. The insectary consists of two laboratories. One laboratory maintains PHM cultures, which include two PHM host rooms and one collection crawler room where PHM are being reared on preferred host, Japanese pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata). Female PHM are small (about 3mm), soft bodied insects covered in a waxy, cottony like substance that protects them against a number of pesticides. Male PHM are different in that they have wings and are smaller than the female. The second laboratory is the rearing arena for the parasites (Anagyrus kamali and Gyranusoidea indica) and predator (Crytolaemus montrouzieri).
FDACS, DPI's goal is to maintain an insectary that will provide natural enemies to help control the spread of the pink hibiscus mealybug (Maconellicoccus hirsutus) and stop them from gaining a foothold in the US. Our projected production goals are 10,000 parasites and 5,000 predators per week to be shipped to affected areas. Biological control has proven to be the most natural, cost effective and safest way to control these invasive pests.
 Japanese pumpkin vine |
 Field planting |
 "bunchy top" symptom of PHM |
Photo credits: Jeffrey Lotz-DPI, Dale E. Meyerdirk-USDA/APHIS, Marshall W. Johnson-University of Hawaii
