About Citrus Mealybug
The citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri) is a soft-bodied scale insect measuring 3–4 mm, covered in white waxy filaments that give it a powdery appearance. It feeds on a wide range of host plants in greenhouses and tropical regions by piercing tissue and sucking phloem sap, excreting honeydew that promotes sooty mold. Females produce 300–600 eggs in waxy egg masses hidden in leaf axils and soil near roots. Heavy infestations cause leaf yellowing, fruit drop, and plant decline. Biological controls using the parasitic wasp Leptomastix dactylopii are highly effective in greenhouse settings and preferred over repeated pesticide applications.
Geographic Distribution
This insect is found across Oceania, with notable populations in Fiji and surrounding regions.
Management
If you suspect a Citrus Mealybug problem, consult our recommended exterminator services or browse our full pest species database for related species and control guidance.