| Exotic Palmicultor mealybugs in Florida Over the last 10 year, three exotic Palmicultor mealybugs have established in Florida: Palmicultor browni (1995), Palmicultor palmorum (1999), and Palmicultor lumpurensis (2002). In the field, the red to brown bodies of these species are covered with a fine, white wax. Due to their body coloration, Palmicultor mealybugs may superficially resemble pink hibiscus mealybug. Specimens must be slide-mounted in order to confirm genus and species-level identification. Palmicultor browni and P. palmorum both infest palms, particularly Veitchia spp. These mealybugs may cause significant dieback in palms. Currently, they are the most commonly collected mealybugs in south Florida palms by FDACS-DPI inspectors. Palmicultor lumpurensis is a pest of bamboo, particularly Arundinaria and Bambusa spp. High populations can result in the abortion of new shoots. More information is available at: http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/ento/t-lumpurensis.html Known County Distributions (July 2004): P. browni: Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Lee P. palmorum: Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Polk, Flagler P. lumpurensis: Broward, Lake, Orange, Seminole, Volusia
Photos courtesy of FDACS-DPI |
