March 2, 2010

Mealy bug- a DRACULA of trees

In Kerala, India, for the past 2 months, some of the crops like pappaya and ornamental shrubs like Hibiscus are under attack from a vicious mealy bug by name Paracoccus marginatus (Insecta: Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae).

I have recently noticed that this bug is also sucking at Ficus callosa, a large tree. I noticed this tiny insects with their "white fur coat" in the leaf axils of this tree.

Considering their attack range, I also beleive that this bug is having a special affinity for plants with latex. Most plants in the Ficus (fig family) group have latex!

Just wondering which is the next line of target for this plant DRACULA!

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