What do I look for?
Citrophilus mealybug is a slow moving, oval-shaped insect about 3–4 mm long with the white, waxy covering typical of many mealybugs found in Western Australia.
While most other mealybugs excrete pale yellow body contents when poked, the Citrophilus mealybug has dark red body excretions.
What damage can this pest cause?
Citrophilus mealybugs extract plant sap, reducing tree vigour and production, and secrete large amounts of honeydew — an exudate high in sugar that encourages development of sooty mould. The presence of honeydew and sooty mould downgrades fruit quality resulting in unmarketable fruit. Fruit production can also be affected through reduced photosynthesis.
What do I do if I find it?
Pseudococcus calceolariae (Maskell, 1897) is a prohibited organism for Western Australia. It is important that suspect infestations are reported. Early detection and eradication will help protect Western Australian horticultural industries. Please contact the Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS) to report this pest.