Malagnini, V., Pellizzari, G., & Duso, C. 2005 Molecular approach based on ribosomal DNA sequences to separate Planococcus citri (Risso) and Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). (Abstract only).. Proceedings of the X International Symposium on Scale Insect Studies, held at Plant Protection Research Institute, Adana/ Turkey, 19-23 April 2004. Adana Zirai Muscadele Arastirma Enstitusu. Adana, Turkey 408 pp.

Notes: Among mealybug species occurring in Italian vineyards Planococcus ficus (Signoret) and P. citri (Risso) are the most important species. The first one seems more widespread than the latter. These species are morphologically very similar and their identification is sometimes problematic because of the variability of several characters. Presently molecular biology is widely used to solve systematic problems. In this work we consider the sequences of the region of ribosomal DNA (ITSI-S.8S-ITS2) of populations of P. ficus and P. citri collected in different Italian regions. Preliminary results are reported.