Description:
The adult female is elongate-oval and superficially woodlouse-like with distinct body segmentation. Body is pinkish-grey coated with white flocculent wax,2-4,5mm long with a fringe of short waxen filaments. Eggs are laid within cottonwool-like ovisacs. There are several generations annually and all stages are very active, producing considerable quantities of honedew.
Symptoms:
Leaves: Presence of cottonwool-like insect, secretion of honeydew, development of sooty moulds, contamination of foliage, leaves may turn yellow and wilt, weakened plants
Stem: Presence of cottonwool-like insect, secretion of honeydew, development of sooty moulds
Fruits: Presence of cottonwool-like insect, secretion of honeydew, development of sooty moulds, contamination of fruits, unmarketable fruits
Hosts: Citrus, grapevine, pomegranate
Taxonomy:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Hemiptera |
| Family | Pseudococcidae |
| Genus | Planococcus |
| Species | citri |
References:
Alford D. V. (2014). Pests of Fruit Crops. A Colour Handbook, CRC Press, 2nd Edition