Abstract
Surveys for mealybugs, associated natural enemies and ants were conducted in abandoned pineapple fields on the Hawaiian islands of Oahu and Maui from July 1992 to November 1993. Whole plant samples were taken, and mealybugs and ants found were identified. Mealybug-infested plant parts were isolated and held until natural enemies emerged from parasitized host material. At sample sites where only Dysmicoccus brevipes was present, its densities ranged from a mean of 23 to 157 mealybugs per plant, while in areas with mixed populations of this mealybug and Dysmicoccus neobrevipes Beardsley, densities ranged from a mean of 23 to 118 mealybugs per plant. Ants were present at all sample sites and on all dates. Pheidole megacephala (F.) was the most common ant species found. Anagyrus ananatis Gahan was the most common parasitoid reared. However, it attacked only D. brevipes, the dominant mealybug in the pineapple fields surveyed. Percent parasitization of D. brevipes by A. ananatis in the presence of ants ranged from 0.3 to 9.9%. Percent parasitization of D. brevipes and D. neobrevipes per plant by Euryrhopalus propinquus Kerrich ranged from 0.05 to 2.2%. Mean densities of the predators Lobodiplosis pseudococci (Felt), Nephus bilucernarius Mulsant and Sticholotis ruficeps Weise ranged from 0.05 to 5.75, 0.1 to 1.8, and 0.05 to 0.2 individuals per plant, respectively.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abate, F.R., 1991. Omni Gazetteer of the United States of America, Vol. 9. Pacific. Omnigraphics, Inc., Detroit, Michigan.
Bartlett, B.R., 1978. Pseudococcidae. In: C.P. Clausen (ed), Introduced Parasites and Predators of Arthropod Pest and Weeds: a World Review. U.S.D.A. Handbook. No. 480. pp. 137-170.
Beardsley, J.W., 1959. On the taxonomy of pineapple mealybug in Hawaii with the description of a previously unnamed species (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Proc. Hawaii. Entomol. Soc. 17: 29-37.
Beardsley, J.W., 1976. A synopsis of the Encyrtidae of the Hawaiian Islands with keys to genera and species (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Proc. Hawaii. Entomol. Soc. 22: 181-228.
Beardsley, J.W., 1993. The pineapple mealybug complex; taxonomy, distribution and host relationships. First International Pineapple Symposium, Honolulu, Hawaii. Acta Horticult. 334: 383-386.
Carter, W., 1935. Studies on biological control of Pseudococcus brevipes (Ckl.) in Jamaica and Central America. J. Econ. Entomol. 28: 1037-1041.
Carter, W., 1937. Importation and laboratory breeding of two chalcid parasites of Pseudococcus brevipes (Ckl.). J. Econ. Entomol. 30: 370-372.
Carter, W., 1944. Biological control of Pseudococcus brevipes (Ckl.). Proc. Hawaii. Entomol. Soc. 12: 15.
Carter, W., 1945. Encyrtid parasites of Pseudococcus brevipes (Cockerell). Proc. Hawaii. Entomol. Soc. 12: 489.
Carter, W., 1949. Insect notes from South America with special reference to Pseudococcus brevipes and mealybug wilt. J. Econ. Entomol. 42: 761-766.
Carter, W., 1962. Insects in Relation to Plant Disease. J. Wiley & Sons, New York.
Carter, W., 1967. Insects and Related Pests of Pineapple in Hawaii. A Manual for Fieldmen. Pineapple Research Institute (Restricted publication), Honolulu, HI. pp. 36-53.
Chapman, R.N., 1938. Biological control (Project 26). Experimental Station of Pineapple Producers Cooperative Association, Honolulu, HI. Monthly Report, December. pp. 319-333.
Compere, H., 1936. A new genus and species of Encyrtidae parasitic in the pineapple mealybug, Pseudococcus brevipes (Ckl.). Proc. Hawaii. Entomol. Soc. 9: 171-174.
DeBach, P. and C.F. Huffaker, 1971. Experimental techniques for evaluation of the effectiveness of natural enemies. In: C.F. Huffaker (ed.), Biological Control. Plenum Press, New York, NY. pp. 113-140.
Funasaki, G.Y., P.Y. Lai, L.M. Nakahara, J.W. Beardsley and A.K. Ota, 1988. A review of biological control introductions in Hawaii: 1890–1985. Proc. Hawaii. Entomol. Soc. 28: 105-160.
Giffard, W.M., 1907. Notes and exhibition. Proc. Hawaii. Entomol. Soc. 1: 173-174.
González-Hernández, H., 1995. The status of biological control of pineapple mealybugs in Hawaii. Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Entomology, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.
González-Hernández, H., M.W. Johnson and N.J. Reimer, 1999. Impact of Pheidole megacephala (F.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on the biological control of Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Biol. Control. (In press).
Hardy, D.E., 1960. Insects of Hawaii. X. Diptera: Nematocera-Brachycera. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, HI.
Jahn, G., 1992. The ecological significance of the big-headed ant in mealybug wilt disease of pineapple. Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Entomology, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.
Kerrich. G.J., 1967. On the classification of the Anagyrine Encyrtidae, with a revision of some of the genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Bull. Brit. Museum (Natural History) (Entomology) 20: 143-250.
Leeper, J.R., 1976. A review of the Hawaiian Coccinellidae. Proc. Hawaii. Entomol. Soc. 22: 279-306.
Nixon, G.E.J., 1951. The Association of Ants with Aphids and Coccids. Commonwealth Institute of Entomology, London.
Noyes J.S. and M. Hayat, 1994. Oriental Mealybug Parasitoids of the Anagyrini (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Natural History Museum. CAB International Institute of Entomology, London.
Petty G.J. and H. Tustin, 1993. Ant (Pheidole megacephala F.) — mealybug (Dysmicoccus brevipes Ckll) relationships in pineapples in South Africa. First International Pineapple Symposium, Honolulu, Hawaii. Acta Horticult. 334: 387-395.
Reimer, N.J., M. Cope and G. Yasuda, 1993. Interference of Pheidole megacephala (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with biological control of Coccus viridis (Homoptera: Coccidae) in coffee. Environm. Entomol. 22: 483-488.
Swezey, O.H., 1939. Recent records of the introduction of beneficial insects into the Hawaiian islands. Proc. Hawaii. Entomol. Soc. 10: 349-352.
Way, M.J., 1963. Mutualism between ants and Honeydew-producing Homoptera. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 8: 307-344.
Weber, P.W., 1955. Recent liberation of beneficial insects in Hawaii — IV. Proc. Hawaii. Entomol. Soc. 15: 635-638.
Williams, D.J. and M.C. Granara de Willink, 1992. Mealybugs of Central and South America. CAB International Institute of Entomology, London.
Zimmerman, E.C., 1948. Insects of Hawaii. Vol. 5. Homoptera: Sternorhyncha. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, HI.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
González-Hernández, H., Reimer, N.J. & Johnson, M.W. Survey of the natural enemies of Dysmicoccus mealybugs on pineapple in Hawaii. BioControl 44, 47–58 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009954625169
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009954625169