Mid-Florida Research & Education Center

Hibiscus or Lebbeck Mealybug

	This is an adult female hibiscus mealybug prior to forming an ovisac. Notice the dark purple to black color of the body that is also covered with white wax.
	These are various stages of mealybug that have not developed their white waxy covering. You can see how dark the bodies are which sets them apart from many other mealybugs you might commonly see.
	An enlarged section from the above photo.
	The mealybugs are beginning to develop a complete coating of white wax.
	In this photo a number of the females are developing egg sacs (ovisacs). You can start to see that the ovisacs are starting to appear yellow in color. This is also different from many of the common species of mealybugs we see in Florida.
	These ovisacs have an obvious yellow tint.
	In this photo an egg was teased out of the waxy fibers of the ovisac and they are much darker than other mealybugs.