Integrative taxonomy methods reveal high mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) diversity in southern Brazilian fruit crops

Abstract

The Serra Gaúcha region is the most important temperate fruit-producing area in southern Brazil. Despite mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) infesting several host plants in the region, there is a lack of information about the composition of species damaging different crops. A survey of mealybug species associated with commercial fruit crops (apple, persimmon, strawberry and grapes) was performed in Serra Gaúcha between 2013 and 2015, using both morphology and DNA analyses for species identification. The most abundant species were Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret), found on all four host plant species, and Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell), infesting persimmon, vines and weeds. The highest diversity of mealybug species was found on persimmon trees, hosting 20 different taxa, of which Anisococcus granarae Pacheco da Silva & Kaydan, D. brevipes, Pseudococcus sociabilis Hambleton and Ps. viburni were the most abundant. A total of nine species were recorded in vineyards. Planococcus ficus (Signoret) and Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni Tozzetti) were observed causing damage to grapes for the first time. A single species, Ps. viburni, was found associated with apples, while both Ps. viburni and Ferrisia meridionalis Williams were found on strawberry. Four of the mealybug species found represent new records for Brazil.

First report of Pseudococcus viburni (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Colombia: Morphometric and molecular analysis, with notes on morphological variation in specimens from Brazil and Colombia

“…The adult females of Colombian specimens were compared with seventy‐eight specimens collected from the southern region of Brazil, identified as P . viburni by morphology and molecular methods (Pacheco da Silva et al., 2017). Measurements of Brazilian samples were taken by the second and third authors under a LEICA DM 2500 phase‐contrast compound microscope.…”

“…meridionalis Prado, 2011 and P . occultus Granara de Willink, 2018 (Gimpel & Miller, 1996; Correa et al., 2011; Pacheco da Silva et al., 2017; Granara de Willink & González, 2018). A variety of taxonomic tools have been used to elucidate this species complex, including molecular techniques, morphological studies of postembryonic stages and biological information, i.e., host range, geographical distribution and mealybug‐parasitoid relationship approaches (Gimpel & Miller, 1996; Wakgari & Giliomee, 2004; Charles, 2011; Correa et al., 2015).…”

Parasitoids (Hymenoptera) of Mealybug Pests (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) from Southern Brazil: Molecular and Morphological Characterization

“…Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) are important pests worldwide, infesting fruit plants such as apples, persimmon, strawberry, and grapevines (Charles et al 2015;Pacheco da Silva et al 2017). Nymphs and adult females damage crops by secreting honeydew, which facilitates the development of sooty mold, and by transmission of toxins and viruses, which may eventually kill the plant (Golino et al 2002;Franco et al 2009;Daane et al 2012).…”

“…Nymphs and adult females damage crops by secreting honeydew, which facilitates the development of sooty mold, and by transmission of toxins and viruses, which may eventually kill the plant (Golino et al 2002;Franco et al 2009;Daane et al 2012). The invasive mealybug Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret), known as the obscure mealybug, is a common species damaging fruits in temperate regions (Ciampolini et al 2002;Daane et al 2008;Dapoto et al 2011;Mudavanhu et al 2011;Correa et al 2012), and is considered the most common species in fruit crops in southern Brazil (Pacheco da Silva et al 2017). The vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) shows high infestation rates in vineyards and fig plants (Daane et al 2012), and it has recently expanded across Serra Gaúcha, the most important wine production region of Brazil (Pacheco da Silva et al 2016).…”

“…The vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) shows high infestation rates in vineyards and fig plants (Daane et al 2012), and it has recently expanded across Serra Gaúcha, the most important wine production region of Brazil (Pacheco da Silva et al 2016). Finally, the Hambleton mealybug Pseudococcus sociabilis Hambleton has been reported on persimmon fruits from the same area (Pacheco da Silva et al 2017). Mealybug control commonly relies on pesticides, but those are inefficient in the long-term because of the cryptic habits and presence of hydrophobic waxes on the body surface of mealybugs (Franco et al 2009).…”