Document généré le 29 sept. 2021 23:36 Phytoprotection Invasion of the Carribean by the hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green [Homoptera : Pseudococcidae] L.A. Sagarra et D.D. Peterkin Volume 80, numéro 2, 1999 Résumé de l'article Since its accidental introduction into the island of Grenada in 1994, URI : https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/706185ar Maconellicoccus hirsutus [Homoptera : Pseudococcidae], commonly named the DOI : https://doi.org/10.7202/706185ar Hibiscus or Pink Mealybug (HMB), has been inexorably spreading through the Caribbean islands where it has become a major pest on several crops in 24 Aller au sommaire du numéro Caribbean Islands. This pest was also reported in Guyana threatening South and Central America. M. hirsutus is a very prolific pest that injects a toxin at the point of feeding, causing severe distortion of leaves, new shoots and fruit. Éditeur(s) Initial use of physical and chemical control methods were ineffective. In addition, because of its wide host range and its rapid geographie expansion, Société de protection des plantes du Québec (SPPQ)l not only to agricultural land but also to home gardens and forest areas, biological control appeared as the most suitable method to manage the HMB ISSN populations. Three natural enemies were selected for this biocontrol effort: the predatory beetles Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant and Scymnuscoccivora 0031-9511 (imprimé) Ramkrisna [Coleoptera : Coccinellidae] and the parasitoid Anagyruskamali 1710-1603 (numérique) Moursi [Hymenoptera : Encyrtidae]. A. kamali and C. montrouzieri were highly effective in bringing HMB populations under control. In newly infested Découvrir la revue countries, early introduction of biological control agents resulted in effective management of the pest. This experience provided a model for future management of other alien invasive pest species in the region. Citer cet article Sagarra, L. & Peterkin, D. (1999). Invasion of the Carribean by the hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green [Homoptera : Pseudococcidae]. Phytoprotection, 80(2), 103–113. https://doi.org/10.7202/706185ar La société de protection des plantes du Québec, 1999 Ce document est protégé par la loi sur le droit d’auteur. L’utilisation des services d’Érudit (y compris la reproduction) est assujettie à sa politique d’utilisation que vous pouvez consulter en ligne. https://apropos.erudit.org/fr/usagers/politique-dutilisation/ Cet article est diffusé et préservé par Érudit. Érudit est un consortium interuniversitaire sans but lucratif composé de l’Université de Montréal, l’Université Laval et l’Université du Québec à Montréal. Il a pour mission la promotion et la valorisation de la recherche. https://www.erudit.org/fr/ Symposium / Symposium - Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (Québec), Canada 9 juin / 9 June 1999 Ravageurs nouveaux et en ré-émergence / New and re-emerging pests Invasion of the Caribbean by the hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green [Homoptera : Pseudococcidae] L.A. Sagarra1 and D.D. Peterkirr 1 P-R Trinidad Ltd., Orange Grove Estate, Tacarigua, Trinidad & Tobago - W.I.; e-mail: [email protected] 2 CABI Bioscience, Gordon Street, Curepe, Trinidad & Tobago w.i. PHYTOPROTECTION 80: 103-113 ABSTRACT kamali Moursi [Hymenoptera : En- cyrtidae]. A. kamali and C. montrouzieri were highly effective in bringing HMB Since its accidentai introduction into the populations under control. In newly island of Grenada in 1994, Maconelli­ infested countries, early introduction of coccus hirsutus [Homoptera : Pseudo­ biological control agents resulted in coccidae], commonly named the Hibis­ effective management of the pest. This cus or Pink Mealybug (HMB), has been expérience provided a model for future inexorably spreading through the Car­ management of other alien invasive pest ibbean islands where it has become a species in the région. major pest on several crops in 24 Car­ ibbean Islands. This pest was also re- ported in Guyana threatening South and INVASIVE PESTS IN THE Central America. M. hirsutus is a very prolific pest that injects a toxin at the CARIBBEAN point of feeding, causing severe distor- The threat posed by introduced pests tion of leaves, new shoots and fruit. (insects, plant diseases and weeds) Initial use of physical and chemical reaches far beyond traditional agricul­ control methods were ineffective. In tural production. The advent of an inva­ addition, because of its wide host range sive species into a new environment and its rapid géographie expansion, not may impact on économie activities and only to agricultural land but also to trade. It may also hâve far reaching home gardens and forest areas, biolog- ecological conséquences in terms of ical control appeared as the most suit- altérations to biodiversity and the func- able method to manage the HMB pop­ tion of natural communities of organ­ ulations. Three natural enemies were isais. selected for this biocontrol effort : the predatory beetles Cryptolaemus mon- In a new environment, exotic inva­ trouzieriN\u\sant and Scymnuscoccivo- sive species are usually free from the ra Ramkrisna [Coleoptera : Coccinel- burden of pre-adapted predators, para­ lidae] and the parasitoid Anagyrus sites, pathogens and competitors that Note du rédacteur ; le texte ci-dessus est présenté tel que soumis/Editor's note : the above text is presented as submitted. 103 kept them in check in their native hab­ INTRODUCTION AND itat. They multiply and spread explo- SPREAD OF M. HIRSUTUS sively, rapidly colonizing and dominat- ing the new environment. This is IN THE CARIBBEAN particularly true in the Caribbean, where each island ecosystem has a spécifie Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green [Ho- flora and fauna which are unusually moptera : Pseudococcidae], commonly susceptible to damage by invasive spe- named the Hibiscus or Pink Mealybug cies. Introduction of exotic species is a (HMB), was first described in India by threat to the indigenous species which Green (1908) as Phenacoccus hirsutus could be displaced or even eradicated and was subsequently placed in the due to compétition with the new spe­ genus Maconellicoccusby Ezzat in 1958. cies (Van Driesche and Bellows 1993). It originated from South East Asia (Wil­ This could affect the entire balance of liams 1996) and prior to 1994, it was an ecosystem since the development of widely distributed in numerous coun- the new species is virtually uncontrolled tries of the inter-tropical areas of Africa, and geographical barrier may prevent Asia and Australia (I.I.E. 1997). M. hir­ the natural introduction of pre-adapted sutus was first recorded in the Western competitors from its area of origin. This hémisphère in November 1994, from was the case when the mongoose was the island of Grenada in the Caribbean introduced into the Caribbean to con- (Matille-Ferrero and Etienne 1996), trol snake populations in commercial where it was possibly introduced sev­ crop plantations. In this new environ­ eral years earlier. The origin of the pest ment, mongoose populations increased introduction is still unknown. to such extent that they are now threat- ening certain local snake species which M. hirsutus rapidly spread through were previously controlling populations the Caribbean, increasing its geograph­ of rodents in the islands. ical range from one island in 1994 to four islands in 1995, 7 islands in 1996, Over the last décade, the Caribbean 17 islands in 1997, 20 islands in 1998 has been invaded by several species of and 21 islands in 1999 (Pollard 1998; exotic insect pests. Thèse include the Etienne, personal communication). melon thrips, Thrips palmi, and the The pest is now présent in Grenada, mango seed weevil, Sternochetus Trinidad, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint mangiferea, from Asia, and the brown Maarten, Saint Lucia, Tobago, St. Eusta- citrus aphid, Toxoptera citricida, which tius, Curaçao and possibly Aruba, An- is the most important vector of the cit­ guilla, Guyana, British Virgin Islands, rus tristeza virus, from South Africa via St. Vincent and the Grenadines, US South America. More récent invasions Virgin Islands, Viequez and Culebra Is­ are represented by species like the cit­ lands of Puerto Rico, Monserrat, Guade­ rus leaf miner, Phyllocnistis citrella, loupe, Puerto Rico mainland, and most originally from Asia and Africa, and the recently Martinique was reported to be citrus black fly, Aleurocanthus woglu- infested. To date, the only uninfested mi, from South America. islands of the Lesser Antilles are Barba- Two important mealybug species dos, Dominica and Antigua and Barbu- were also accidentally introduced into da, but the probability of thèse remain- the région within the last 5 years, and ing uninfested is slim. moved rapidly through the islands: Maconellicoccus hirsutus, the hibiscus M. hirsutus generally entered unin­ mealybug from Asia, and Paracoccus fested areas through the ports on con- marginatus from South America (Mat- taminated produce or hidden in pas- ille-Ferrero and Etienne 1998). senger luggage. It rapidly spread along the main routes of human traffic. This This paperwillfocusonthe impact of pattern was repeated in most of the M. hirsutus as a récent invasive pest in infested countries. The hibiscus mealy­ the Caribbean. bug was also spread by wind, animais, 104 SAGARRA, PETERKIN : MACONELLICOCCUS HIRSUTUS IN THE CARIBBEAN rainfall, human activities and vehicles. long waxy caudal filaments at the pos- In Guyana, the mealybug first spread terior end of the abdomen. The adult within the urban areas and then along females are wingless,