Mealybugs complex of citrus in Bengkulu Province

Abstract

Mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) attacks many citrus plants over the world. This study reveals mealybug species attack on citrus grown at three different altitude levels: lowlands (<400 m above sea level (asl)), moderate lands (400-800 m asl), and highlands (>800 m asl) in Bengkulu Province. The results record nine species of mealybugs namely Dysmicoccus arachidis Williams, Dysmicoccus lepelleyi (Betrem), Ferrisia dasylirii (Cockerell), Ferrisia virgate (Cockerell), Paracoccus tripurae Williams, Pseudococcus comstocki (Kuwana), Pseudococcus cryptus Hempel, Planococcus dischidiae (Takahashi) and Rastrococcus chinensis Ferris. The species of R. chinensis is only found in the lowlands. Furthermore, P. comstocki is only found in the moderate lands and P. discidiae is only found in the highlands. D. arachidis, F. dasylirii, and R. chinensis are new insects pest on citrus. The key of those species is also included.