The pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), occurs widely in Brazil, causing damage to some crops. However, information on beneficial insects acting to control populations of this pest in Brazil is practically non-existent. A survey was conducted in the state of São Paulo. The insect associates of M. hirsutus recorded on Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (Malvales: Malvaceae) were the parasitoid Gyranusoidea indica Shafee, Alam & Agarwal (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and the predators Cycloneda sanguinea (L.), Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant, Chilocorus nigrita (F.), Exoplectra sp., Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), Tenuisvalvae notata (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), and Ceraeochrysa sp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Cryptolaemus montrouzieri was the most commonly collected species on populations of M. hirsutus infesting plants of H. rosa-sinensis. Chilocorus nigrita, Exoplectra sp., H. axyridis, T. notata, and Ceraeochrysa sp. were associated for the first time with M. hirsutus, and G. indica was recorded for the first time in Brazil.
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1 March 2016
Natural Enemies Associated with Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in the State of São Paulo, Brazil
Ana Lúcia B. G. Peronti,
Nilza Maria Martinelli,
Júlia Godoy Alexandrino,
Alberto Luiz Marsaro Júnior,
Angélica Maria Penteado-Dias,
Lúcia M. Almeida
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Florida Entomologist
Vol. 99 • No. 1
March 2016
Vol. 99 • No. 1
March 2016
biological control
controle biológico
distribuição geográfica
espécie invasora
geographical distribution
invasive species
parasitoid