Invasion of Papaya Mealybug in Asia R. Muniappan, IPM CRSP, OIRED, Virginia Tech

The previously known It was identified in South and Parasitoids are effective biological distribution of the papaya Southeast Asia in 2008 - 2009 control agents for papaya mealybug. mealybug (PMB) In May 2008, a team of scientists from the Integrated Pest The papaya mealybug, Paracoccus Management Collaborative Research marginatus (Hemiptera: Support Program (IPM CRSP) Pseudococcidae), is native to Central supported by USAID found PMB at America. Although specimens of the Bogor Botanical Gardens in PMB were first collected in Mexico Java, Indonesia. Subsequent surveys in 1955, the species was only revealed it spread to Bali and described in 1992. Since then, it has Sulawesi islands. been reported in the U.S. Virgin Islands, The Dominican Republic In July 2008, IPM CRSP scientists Classical biological control and Grenada in 1994; Antigua, Saint visiting Coimbatore, India found approach Martin and The British Virgin PMB infesting papaya in the orchard Paracoccus marginatus is an exotic Islands in 1996; USA (Florida), at Tamil Nadu Agricultural introduced pest in Asia. It is amenable for Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis, St University. It has since spread to the classical biological control approach Barthélemy and Guadaloupe in three neighboring districts. of releasing species-specific parasitoids. 1998; French Guyana, Cuba and In September 2008, IPM CRSP This approach has been successfully Puerto Rico in 1999; Barbados, the scientists helped to identify PMB in implemented against PMB in several Cayman Islands and Montserrat in A serious pest of papaya Sri Lanka, and in November 2008, countries in the Caribbean, some islands 2000; the Bahamas and Guam in In many tropical B. Mapompeth reported it in the in the Pacific and in the states of Florida 2002; Palau in 2003; Hawaii (Maui Paracoccus marginatus is a polyphagous northern part of Thailand. In May and Hawaii in the United States. and Oahu in 2004, Hawaii in 2006); countries, papaya is an pest, with hosts recorded from 22 plant important commercial 2009, IPM CRSP scientists found In May 2009, three parasitoids and the Northern Marianas (Tinian) families. Infestations of PMB occur along PMB at Joydebpur in Bangladesh, in 2005. crop and a key component the veins of older leaves and on all parts (Anagyrus loecki, Acerophagous papayae and in August 2009, it was and Pseudleptomastrix mexicana of the daily diet. of young leaves and fruits. Honeydew confirmed in Maldives. excreted by this mealybug results in the (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)) from the development of sooty mold that covers USDA APHIS parasitoid rearing facility leaves, fruits and stems, impeding at Puerto Rico were released to Sri photosynthesis and gaseous exchange. Lanka. Papaya trees die within a few months By August 2009, there were reports of after infestation. PMB infestation of control of PMB up to 95 to 100% in some Plumeria causes the leaves to become parts of the country and both India and curly and new leaves to fail to expand Indonesia are planning to introduce these fully. The infested leaves and flowers of The papaya mealybug has parasitoids from Sri Lanka. One or more the Hibiscus become distorted, and the caused some growers to of these parasitoids have fortuitously shoots appear bunchy. established in Maldives. abandon papaya cultivation.

Poster prepared by Annie Steed of the IPM CRSP Management Entity This research was supported by the Integrated Pest Management Collaborative Research Support Program (IPM CRSP), which was made possible by the United States Agency for International Development and the generous support of the American people through USAID Cooperative Agreement No. EPPA-00-04-000 16-00. IPM CRSP, OIRED, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA For more information about IPM CRSP : E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 001-540-231-3513