Abbes, K., Harbi, A., Wanassi, T., Biondi, A., Ricupero, M., Mazzeo, G., Russo, A., Chermiti, B., & Zappalà, L. 2023 The cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is spreading in North Africa: first report in Tunisia. Oriental Insects doi.org/10.1080/00305316.2023.2253237

Keywords:

  • dispersal
  • distribution
  • economic importance
  • host
  • illustration
  • natural enemies
  • phylogeny

    • Notes: We report the presence of P. solenopsis on ornamental and tomato crops in Tunisia for the first time. The species was identified using an integrative approach based on classical morphological features and DNA characterization of the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I (mtCOI). Besides, the genetic relationship of Tunisian specimens of P. solenopsis with those originating from different native and invaded world regions was explored to identify the source of the invasion of Tunisian crops.