Firake, D.M., Joshi, S., Behere, G.T., Momin, G.C., Azad Thakur, N.S., & Ngachan, S.V. 2015 First Report of the Mealybug Formicococcus polysperes (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Infesting Ginger in India. Entomological News 125(3):179-185

Keywords:

diagnosis

distribution

economic importance

host

illustration

Notes: The mealybug Formicococcus polysperes Williams (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is reported for the first time attacking ginger rhizomes (Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingi beraceae)) in Meghalaya State of India. Plants infested by the sap-sucking nymphs and adults of this mealybug turned yellow within 1 to 2 weeks and then started drying from the tip downwards. Infested rhizomes shriveled and eventually dried out. Fields and a nearby storage facility experienced up to 48% crop loss due to the infestation. In this paper we describe the plant damage and the morphological characteristics of F. polysperes from Meghalaya.