Florida citrus and nursery cultivator require to develop proactive management plans for Lebbeck mealybug , an invasive pest that can cost the fruit and cosmetic industry thousands of dollars in damages to yield trees and landscaping plants .
A squad of inquiry scientist is working to prevent such scenarios with an early diagnostic kit to discover the invasive mealy bug on trees and baby’s room plants . The louse is hard to detect and identify during its early life point because it is so lilliputian that it is often hide in belittled crevices in plant .
“ Mealybugs are among the most common regulatory pests in the United States , peculiarly in Florida , ” sound out Nicole Quinn , assistant prof and inquiry entomologist at the UF / IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center ( IRREC ) in Fort Pierce , Florida .
Quinn and a research squad of mealybug experts won a grant from the Florida Nursery , Growers & Landscape Association to share their kit with nursery stakeholders and distribute the kit to nursery owners , managers , and agriculturist . Quinn , Lance Osborne , an bug-hunter at the UF / IFAS Mid - Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka , Florida , and Muhammad “ Zee ” Ahmed , a inquiry bug-hunter with the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research ( USDA - ARS ) Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce , work with a sensation of urgency to learn agriculturist how to use them in the field of operation and glasshouse .
“ I applaud the researchers in their work to germinate the Lebbeck mealybug diagnostic kit so rapidly , ” allege Ronald D. Cave , director of IRREC and Quinn ’s straightaway executive program . “ The squad of entomologists has forgone efforts to seek a patent of invention on the kit to prioritise immediate need for the diligence they serve and Florida ’s economy . ”
Quinn say , “ Florida is vulnerable to invasive species , and we want to give the agriculturalist this tool before we have a job that impacts the ability of our growers to export their yield . ”
The Lebbeck mealybug ( Nipaecoccus viridis ) is easy to miss when new . In citrus Leslie Richard Groves , a sign of an plague is deformed fruit , often lead to mellow degree of fruit drop . “ The diagnostic kit will aid growers distinguish between the Lebbeck mealybug and other mealybugs , such as citrus mealybug , coconut mealybug , long - tailed mealy bug , Madeira mealybug , papaya mealybug , pinkish hibiscus mealybug , solanum mealybug , and solenopsis mealybug , ” Ahmed said . The Lebbeck mealybug is native to Southeast Asia , where it is call the spheric mealybug . “ In ornamental plants such as oleander and jatropha , its heavy infestations are associated with leaf distortions , crinkling , and discolouration due to excessive feeding and reproduction , ” said Ahmed . “ In add-on , it excretes unenviable honeydew leading to the growth of black sooty mold on the folio surface , which reduces the works photosynthesis , growth , and in the end its aesthetic values in the landscape , ” Ahmed say .
“ We have found a reagent that reacts with the mealybug and positively name a Lebbeck mealybug when it deform green , ” suppose Ahmed . “ The outfit includes a dropper bottle with a reagent inside and a fabric that look like to a paper towel . ”
The squad will teach glasshouse growers to reconnoiter for the purplish - red unseasoned “ crawler ” mealybugs , trounce them on a art object of outfit paper , and then apply the dropper solution to the crushed mealybug body when placed on the kit paper .
“ If the crushed body of a mealybug turns light-green — it ’s a Lebbeck mealybug , ” aver Ahmed .
Ahmed developed the diagnostic outfit along with a co - author , Lily Deeter , in an article print in the Journal of Applied Entomology , and is collaborate with Quinn , Osborne , Christina Dorado , a inquiry chemist with the USDA - ARS Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce , and Lauren Diepenbrock , assistant professor and inquiry entomologist at the UF / IFAS Citrus Research & Education Center ( CREC ) , Lake Alfred to heighten the scope of this kit .
“ Mealybug species are almost impossible to differentiate at the crawler stage in the field of force , ” said Ahmed . “ The diagnostic outfit will be the first in the humankind to identify the Lebbeck mealybug in the field so that growers can distinguish it from other common mealybugs during pestilence reconnoitering , ” said Ahmed .
Osborne , an expert in mix pestilence management , recommends producers get the kit , test fresh stuff before imbed them into their larger craw arena and put down the new Lebbeck mealybug - infested plants .
“ This is important to cosmetic growers because it allows them to identify and manage infested plant life material . If producers can distinguish the mealy bug , they can dispose of the infest plant without having to quarantine their entire field or craw , ” Osborne said .
Quinn said trespassing plants and insects are prevalent in Florida . But , scientists , citizen scientist , and gardeners are becoming increasingly cognisant of trespassing plants and louse and how to wangle them . The increase awareness magnate more community - all-encompassing pest management strategy and public interest group to join the battle against invasive species .
“ Growers , gardener , and others who move plant stuff from one location to another can assist prevent Lebbeck mealybug spreading and infestation by being aware of what is in their flora , ” said Quinn . “ We can all wager an authoritative role in protecting Florida ’s landscape from incursive species , ” said Quinn .
origin : ifas.ufl.edu
