The Invasive Hibiscus MealybugMaconellicoccus hirsutus(Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and its Recent Range Expansion in Brazil

Abstract

Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green, 1908) (He miptera: Pseudococcidae) is an invasive mealy bug species originally from Southern Asia or Aus tralia (Williams 1996; Goolsby et al. 2002) that has expanded its range to other parts of the world including the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, North America, and South America (Guyana, French Guiana, Venezuela, Suriname, Colombia) (OEPP/EPPO 2005; Ben-Dov et al. 2012). This insect was first detected in Brazil in 2010 in the State of Roraima near Venezuela and Guyana (Marsaro Junior et al. in press) and the purpose of this note is to document the recent discovery of M. hirsutus in a second Brazilian State, Espirito Santo (approximately 3.400 km southeast of Ror aima in a major agricultural region). As an inva sive, plant-feeding species with a wide variety of plant hosts, M. hirsutus is a potential pest and is likely to become more widely established in Bra zil and South America. Therefore, information on the biology and management of M. hirsutus based on its past invasions of other regions is provided to reduce economic and ecological impacts of this and similar invasive pests in areas where they may be newly introduced or have become estab lished. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench; Malvales: Malvaceae) plants infested with insects were noticed in a commercial field (approximately 3 ha) intercropped with coffee (Coffea canephora Pierre ex A. Froehner; Gentianales: Rubiaceae) and papaya (Carica papaya (L); Brassicales: Caricaceae) in the municipality of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espirito Santo State, Brazil, in May 2012. A sample consisting of several okra fruits with stem and leaves, heavily infested with the insects was collected from the field on 28 May 2012, enclosed in a paper bag and transported to Vitoria, Espirito Santo for identification of the insects. Following preliminary identification of the insects as M. hirsutus mealybugs, 10 adult fe males were preserved in alcohol for confirmation of the identity of the species. In Jun and Jul 2012 okra and other plants in the field and nearby ar eas were examined and additional samples of in sect infested okra and weed plants were collected from the areas examined. In Nov 2012 samples were collected from the original municipality and 2 neighboring municipalities. Preliminary identification of the insects as M. hirsutus was based on the plant host, and live ap pearance characteristic of the species: pinkish fe males covered with white, powdery wax, reddish egg masses and nymphs, with large numbers of eggs and nymphs. Identification of the mealy bugs as Maconellicoccus hirsutus was confirmed by A.L.B.G. Peronti based on microscopic exami nation of slide mounted individuals and observa tion of key characteristics of the species (Rung et al. 2007); collection data: Brazil, Espirito Santo State, Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, 20° 41' 59.41 S, 41° 10' 16.76 W, 28-V-2012, col. J. S. Zanuncio Junior, host Abelmoschus esculentus (Malvaceae). Following confirmation of the identification, re sponsible State Agencies were notified and okra plants in the infested field were cut down in an effort to eliminate the infestation. Additional M. hirsutus specimens were iden tified in samples collected from the field site in Jun (from 5 of 5 okra samples) and Jul (from 1 of 7 okra samples, 1 of 1 sample from Solarium americanum, and 1 of 1 sample from an unidenti fied weed (none were found on 1 sample of Agera tum conyzoides). Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was also found on 5 samples collected from okra, and on S. ameri canum-, and a Coccidae was found on one okra sample. No M. hirsutus were observed on papaya and coffee plants in the field in which the species was found, and none was observed in neighboring areas in Jun and Jul. However, in Nov 2012 M. hirsutus was found in the municipality where it was initially collected and also in 2 neighboring municipalities (unpublished data). Our observations indicate that M. hirsutus is established in Espirito Santo and this record