Seasonal abundance & distribution

Monitoring

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University of California Cooperative Extension

Citrus Mealybug

Site developed and maintained by the Kearney Agricultural Center,
November 2002, © The Regents of the University of California
Last edited: 03/21/2007

Distribution
The citrus mealybug is thought to be a native of China and can be found in Asia, Europe, the southern and western United States, and Hawaii.  In California, the citrus mealybug is considered a pest only in citrus.  However, it is periodically found in vineyards in the San Joaquin and Coachella Valleys.   (Return to top)

Seasonal abundance & distribution
Adult females of this species can lay 300 to 500 eggs in cottony ovisacs that are attached to stems or leaves.  Egg hatch occurs in about 1 week, and the light-yellow crawlers begin to move away from the ovisac to feed.  These mealybugs can develop from egg to adult in as little as 1 month.  Citrus mealybugs can produce from 2 to 5 overlapping generations per year, depending on temperature.  They overwinter predominantly in the egg stage, under bark and along stems.     (Return to top)

Monitoring
It is difficult to differentiate between the citrus and vine mealybugs.  Researchers have recently developed mealybug pheromones that will greatly aid in distinguishing between these closely related species.  (Return to top)