Host plants for mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in grapevine crops

Fabiana Soares Cariri Lopes,Adriana Maria De Souza,José Vargas De Oliveira,José Eudes De Morais Oliveira,Martin Duarte De Oliveira

doi:10.1590/1983-40632019v4954421

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are considered pest insects of economic importance in grapevine crops. They are highly polyphagous, feeding on host plants of about 250 families. This study aimed to identify host plants for mealybugs in grapevine crops, in the São Francisco Valley region, Brazil. The samples included weeds, ornamentals, windbreaks, fruit trees and native plants of the Caatinga biome. A total of 37 species of host plants for mealybugs were identified, distributed in 18 families. The Malvaceae family was the most frequent one, with eigth host species identified, followed by Fabaceae with four and Euphorbiaceae with three. Most of these host plants are being recorded here for the first time in association with mealybugs species. From the identified plant species, 24 are hosts for Maconelicoccus hirsutus, 16 for Phenacoccus solenopsis, one for Ferrisia virgata, one for Dysmicoccus brevipes and one for Planococcus citri. The obtained results are important to better understand the host plant diversity for mealybugs, in order to implement integrated pest management programs.

Highlights

Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are considered pests of economic importance in several crops in the world, such as grapevine (Morandi Filho et al 2015, García Morales et al 2016)
Especially Maconellicoccus hirsutus and Phenacoccus solenopsis, are found infesting weeds, windbreak plants and some fruit trees around and into grapevine crops in the São Francisco Valley region, Brazil. These plants belong mainly to the Malvaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Fabaceae families, and most of them are recorded here for the first time in association with mealybugs (e.g., Herissanthia crispa, Jatropha urens and Mimosa tenuiflora associated with M. hirsutus; and Chamaesyce hirta, Sida galheirensis and Sidastrum micranthum with P. solenopsis)
In a pest integrated management program, these host plants need to be adequately controlled to avoid the re-infestation of commercial orchards

Summary

Introduction

Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are considered pests of economic importance in several crops in the world, such as grapevine (Morandi Filho et al 2015, García Morales et al 2016). The damage caused by sap-sucking mealybugs may lead to the consequent production of honeydew and the appearance of sooty mold, which makes fruits unfeasible for commercialization, and, in some cases, quarantine restrictions may cause embargos in the export of in natura fruits (Kishino et al 2007, Daane et al 2008). They can transmit viruses (grapevine leaf rolls) to host plants, such as Planococcus citri (Risso) (Cabaleiro & Segura 1997, Cid et al 2007, Daane et al 2012).

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion