The passionvine mealybug (Planococcus minor), also known less commonly in the literature as the Pacific mealybug, has been established in several Caribbean countries and Central and South America since at least the late 1980s.
State and federal plant regulatory officials have suspected for several years that the arrival of this species into
Florida was only a matter of time. In preparation, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-CPHST scientists in South Florida began surveying for Planococcus species on potentially suitable hosts in 2009.
In the field, populations of P. minor are indistinguishable from those of P. citri.
The host list for P. minor is extensive, exceeding 250 species in 80 families including Hibiscus spp., Citrus spp.and Clerodendrum spp.
Learn more here.
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