Romanchenko, A.A., & Bel'skaya, N.M. 1981 [The Comstock mealybug in the Odessa region.. Zashchita rastenii No. 4: pp. 41

Notes: The Comstock mealybug [Pseudococcus comstocki (Kuw.)] was observed in the Odessa region of the Crimea (USSR) for the first time in 1974 on mulberry in the port area, but in 1976 it occurred in an area of some 4.12 ha in Odessa and neighbouring Belgorod-Dnestrov and is now present almost throughout these towns and the village of Kotovskii nearby. It had previously been taken in Odessa on plant material from Azerbaijan, and pomegranate imported from the same republic is blamed for the present outbreak. The mealybug infests mainly mulberry and catalpa, and more rarely apricot, cherry and plum. Its bionomics are described. It has two generations a year and overwinters in the egg stage in ovisacs deposited in on or under the bark and in cracks and other shelters. Hatching occurs in the second half of May, when mulberry buds are opening. The first generation develops in 27-30 days and the second in 45-50, and the females lay 100-250 eggs each. For control, Pseudaphycus was introduced from the Uzbekistan laboratory, reared locally and distributed in the Odessa region. This parasite had been already observed in Odessa, but it multiplied slowly and regular releases were necessary during the period of appearance of the second-instar nymphs of each generation. Mass releases of parasites were begun in 1977, and effectiveness reached 76.8-96.8% in 1978. No releases or other control measures were undertaken in 1979, and infestation declined rapidly, parasitism being 98%. Subsequent observations showed that Pseudaphycus readily became established in the Odessa area and provided sufficient control for artificial rearing and release to be discontinued. Since the outbreak appeared to have been due to the importation of infested pomegranates, quarantine measures were taken to ensure that such imports were free from the mealybug. The quarantine measures adopted are described.