An overview of the vine mealybug (Plan ococcus ficus) in South African vineyards and the use of entomopathogenic nematodes as potential biocontrol agent

Abstract

The vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), which is the dominant mealybugspecies in South Africa, is a severe wine and table grape pest and disease vector. Their increasingresistance to chemical pesticides and cryptic lifestyles have led to the search for new control methods.Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) belonging to the famifies Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidaeare deadly insect pathogens. This paper gives valuable background information on F ficus and EPNs,while paying particular attention to the potential use of South African EPN species as biocontrol agentsagainst F ficus.