Further spread of Maconellicoccus hirsutus in the Caribbean
Since the last report on the spread of Maconellicoccus hirsutus (EPPO RS 97/164), further introductions are reported by CPPC. The pink hibiscus mealybug has now been reported from Guadeloupe, the United States Virgin islands of Saint Croix and Saint John, and from Puerto Rico (including the islands of Vieques and Culebra). In Guadeloupe, M. hirsutus was found for the first time in April 1998, in Capesterre Belle-eau on Allamanda cathartica, Alpinia purpurata, Artocarpus altilis, Citrus spp. Gliricidia sepium and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Etienne et al., 1998). It is noted that in countries where biological control has been implemented (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Anagyrus kamali), the pest can be controlled to some extent.
The distribution of Maconellicoccus hirsutus in the Caribbean is now the following:
Caribbean: Anguilla (unconfirmed), British Virgin Islands (Tortolla*), Grenada (including Carriacou and Petit Martinique), Guadeloupe, Guyana, Montserrat*, Netherlands Antilles (Aruba*, Curaçao, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten), Puerto Rico (including the islands of Vieques and Culebra), Saint Kitts ; Nevis (both islands), Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad ; Tobago (both islands), United States Virgin Islands (Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas).
* CPPC mentions these islands in its distribution list and they are new records according to the EPPO Secretariat.They are not reported by CPPC among the most recent introductions.
Sources
Pollard, G.V. (1998) Pink mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus.
CPPC Circular Letter, no. 2/98, 1st June 1998. FAO Sub Regional Office for the Caribbean, Barbados.
Etienne, J.; Matile-Ferrero, D.; Leblanc, F.; Marival, D. (1998) Premier signalement de Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) en Guadeloupe: situation actuelle de ce ravageur des cultures dans les Antilles françaises (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae).
Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, 103(2), 173-174.