Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Associated with Dragon Fruit in Indonesia

Mealybugs were recorded on dragon fruit, Hylocereus undatus (Family: Cactaceae) in Indonesia. The present of certain mealybug species on dragon fruit has become quarantine concern in country where the mealybugs species is absent. The objective of this study was to identify mealybugs species associated with dragon fruit and record the live specimen of adult females mealybug. Mealybugs were collected from 3 locations: Bogor (West Java), Banyuwangi (East Java), and Pontianak (West Kalimantan). Mealybugs found in the location were photographically documented and brought to the laboratory. Identification based on the prepared slide specimen was carried out in the Laboratory of Insect Biosystematics, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University. There were 4 mealybugs species, Ferrisia virgata, Planococcus minor, Phenacoccus solenopsis and Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi recorded on dragon fruit. Dragon fruit is recorded to be the new host of Ph. solenopsis. The morphological characteristics of fully developed mealy wax on live adult female were highlighted to align the characteristic diagnose of species identification based on slide mount specimen.

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