Datasheet
Nipaecoccus nipae (spiked mealybug)
Index
- Pictures
- Identity
- Taxonomic Tree
- Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Description
- Distribution
- Distribution Table
- Risk of Introduction
- Hosts/Species Affected
- Host Plants and Other Plants Affected
- Growth Stages
- Symptoms
- List of Symptoms/Signs
- Biology and Ecology
- Natural enemies
- Notes on Natural Enemies
- Impact
- Detection and Inspection
- Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
- Prevention and Control
- References
- Distribution Maps
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Top of page| Picture | Title | Caption | Copyright |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | N. nipae on Kentia palm from the Canary Isles. Adult females 3.5 mm long, flattish and oval, with distinctive dorsal and marginal white or yellow wax cones which create a satellite appearance. Male N. nipae produce small (ca 2 mm long) waxy filamentous cocoons or tests on the foliage, often in large numbers. | Crown Copyright |
Identity
Top of pagePreferred Scientific Name
- Nipaecoccus nipae (Maskell, 1893)
Preferred Common Name
- spiked mealybug
Other Scientific Names
- Ceroputo nipae (Maskell), Lindinger, 1904
- Dactylopius dubia Maxwell-Lefroy, 1903
- Dactylopius nipae Maskell, 1893
- Dactylopius pseudonipae Cockerell, 1897
- Nipaecoccus pseudonipae (Cockerell), Beardsley, 1960
- Pseudococcus magnoliae Hambleton, 1935
- Pseudococcus nipae (Maskell), Cockerell, 1902
- Pseudococcus pseudonipae (Cockerell), Fernald, 1903
- Ripersia nipae (Maskell), Gómez-Menor Ortega
- Ripersia serrata Tinsley, 1900
- Trechocorys nipae (Maskell), Kirkaldy, 1904
International Common Names
- English: avocado mealybug; buff coconut mealybug; coconut mealybug; nipa mealybug; sugarapple mealybug
- Spanish: chinche harinosa del cocotero; piojo harinoso (Mexico)
- French: cochenille du cocotier
Local Common Names
- Netherlands: Palmwolluis
- South Africa: palm wolluis
EPPO code
- NIPANI (Nipaecoccus nipae)
Taxonomic Tree
Top of page- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Metazoa
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Uniramia
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Hemiptera
- Suborder: Sternorrhyncha
- Unknown: Coccoidea
- Family: Pseudococcidae
- Genus: Nipaecoccus
- Species: Nipaecoccus nipae
Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Top of page There are apparently two forms of Nipaecoccus nipae, one with white wax and the other with yellow wax, which have often been named N. nipae and N. pseudonipae, respectively (Zimmerman, 1948; Williams and Granara de Willink, 1992). Beardsley (1960) suggested morphological differences between the adult males of the two forms but no morphological characters have been found to distinguish the adult females. In life, the yellow and white forms are often found living together and for the purposes of this work they are regarded as the same species.Description
Top of page In life, adult female N. nipae are 3.5 mm long, flattish and oval. They are salmon-pink to dark-red in colour, with distinctive dorsal and marginal white or yellow wax cones which create a satellite appearance. In most species of mealybug, the males, if present, are less conspicuous that the females, but male N. nipae are more numerous than females. Male N. nipae produce small (about 2 mm long) waxy filamentous cocoons or tests on the foliage, which are often present in large numbers. The male tests of N. nipae are more common and more conspicuous than those of many other mealybug species.Authoritative identification of N. nipae involves detailed microscopic examination of slide-mounted, teneral, adult females by a competent taxonomist. For detailed morphological descriptions of the adult female, illustrations and keys to the species of Nipaecoccus that occur in North America see Ferris (1950) and McKenzie (1967), for those in Central and South America see Williams and Granara de Willink (1992) and for those in Australia see Williams (1985). Beardsley (1960) has described the morphology of the adult male.
Distribution
Top of page N. nipae is found in Europe, Asia, Africa, North, Central and South America and Oceania (Ben-Dov, 1994; CABI/EPPO, 2005).The collection at The Natural History Museum, London, UK contains numerous samples of Nipaecoccus from southern Asia, particularly India; all of them are N. viridis and not N. nipae. On the basis of the coverage by Williams (2004), and the absence of supporting specimens, the records of N. nipae from southern Asia are regarded as of questionable accuracy and are not included in the recent distribution map by CABI/EPPO (2005).
A tentative record for Australia (Williams, 1985), has not been included in CABI/EPPO (2005).
In northern and central Europe, including the UK, N. nipae is found in glasshouses, particularly in botanical gardens, and does not appear to occur in the open. It is therefore recorded as occasionally present in this region. In South Africa, N. nipae is mostly found in glasshouses, but is occasionally found in the open around Durban (CABI/EPPO, 2005).
Distribution Table
Top of pageThe distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
Last updated: 10 Jan 2020Risk of Introduction
Top of page Immature and adult female N. nipae are readily carried on plants and plant produce and may be injurious when introduced to new geographical areas where they have no natural enemies. Injudicious chemical spraying techniques may reduce the natural enemies of N. nipae allowing them to proliferate.Hosts/Species Affected
Top of page N. nipae is polyphagous and attacks 80 genera of plants belonging to 43 families (Ben-Dov, 1994). It is recorded feeding on a wide range of economically important plants, mostly fruit crops and ornamentals, including avocados, bananas, citrus, cocoa, coconuts, custard apples (Annona reticulata), edible figs, guavas, mangoes, oil palm, orchids, pawpaws, pineapples, seaside grapes and soursop (Annona muricata). N. nipae seems to prefer palms, such as species of Areca, Cocos, Kentia, Kentiopsis and Sabal. In temperate regions in Europe and North America, N. nipae often attacks ornamental palms grown under glass.Host Plants and Other Plants Affected
Top of pageGrowth Stages
Top of page Flowering stage, Fruiting stage, Post-harvest, Vegetative growing stageSymptoms
Top of page In most cases, the main damage caused by N. nipae is the depletion of plant sap, yellowing of the foliage, reduced vigour of the host, and the deposition on the foliage and fruit of honeydew which serves as a medium for the growth of black sooty moulds. The covering of sooty moulds reduces the photosynthetic area.List of Symptoms/Signs
Top of page| Sign | Life Stages | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit / external feeding | ||
| Fruit / honeydew or sooty mould | ||
| Growing point / external feeding | ||
| Leaves / abnormal colours | ||
| Leaves / honeydew or sooty mould | ||
| Leaves / honeydew or sooty mould | ||
| Stems / external feeding |
Biology and Ecology
Top of page N. nipae is sexually reproductive but its biology and ecology are poorly known.Natural enemies
Top of page| Natural enemy | Type | Life stages | Specificity | References | Biological control in | Biological control on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anagyrus dactylopii | Parasite | Nymphs | ||||
| Cryptolaemus montrouzieri | Predator | Adults/Nymphs | Bermuda; Puerto Rico; St Kitts Nevis | Annona; Arecaceae; avocados; Cocos nucifera; Erythrina; guavas | ||
| Curinus caeruleus | Predator | Adults/Nymphs | ||||
| Curinus coeruleus | Predator | Adults/Nymphs | Hawaii | avocados | ||
| Hyperaspis jucunda | Predator | Adults/Nymphs | St Kitts Nevis | Annona; avocados; Cocos nucifera | ||
| Hyperaspis silvestri | Predator | Adults/Nymphs | ||||
| Hyperaspis silvestrii | Predator | Adults/Nymphs | Hawaii | avocados | ||
| Mallada basalis | Predator | |||||
| Pseudaphycus utilis | Parasite | Nymphs | Bermuda; Hawaii; Puerto Rico; St Kitts Nevis | Annona; Arecaceae; avocados; Cocos nucifera; Erythrina; guavas | ||
| Pseudiastata nebulosa | Predator | Adults/Nymphs | Hawaii | avocados | ||
| Scymnus binaevatus | Predator | Adults/Nymphs | Bermuda | Annona; Arecaceae; avocados; guavas | ||
| Zarhopalus clavatus | Parasite | Nymphs |
Notes on Natural Enemies
Top of page Bartlett (1978) has given an account of the introduced parasites and predators used to control N. nipae in Hawaii. The parasitoid Pseudaphycus utilis is one of the most important natural enemies of N. nipae. Within about a year of the introduction of P. utilis to Hawaii, N. nipae had almost disappeared from Oahu and was soon almost eradicated from the Hawaiian Islands (Bartlett, 1978).Impact
Top of page N. nipae is generally of little economic importance, but it has become a pest of avocados and guavas in Hawaii, Bermuda and Puerto Rico (see Ben-Dov, 1994 for further references). Ant-attended infestations of N. nipae have been recorded causing damage to coconut plantations in Guyana, together with the coconut scale Aspidiotus destructor (Raj, 1977). N. nipae is also a pest of ornamental palms. The damage caused by N. nipae may result in ornamental plants, fruit, cut flowers and foliage losing their market value.Detection and Inspection
Top of page Heavy infestations of N. nipae are conspicuous because of the presence of distinct waxy adult females, numerous waxy male tests and sooty mould growing on the honeydew. They usually occur on the undersides of the foliage.Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
Top of page N. nipae should be distinguished from N. aurilanatus, a pest usually found on Araucariaceae, which has spread to many tropical and subtropical regions. N. aurilanatus is easily distinguished because it has numerous ventral multilocular pores on all abdominal segments, no dorsal cephalic cluster of conical setae above the base of each antenna, and is a pest of conifers.N. nipae, in contrast, has fewer ventral multilocular pores and they are confined to the last four abdominal segments. It also has a distinct dorsal cephalic cluster of conical setae above the base of each antenna and is rarely, if ever, found on a coniferous host.
Prevention and Control
Top of pageDue to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label.
Chemical ControlIn Hawaii, the efficacy of a series of methods were evaluated as post-harvest treatments to eliminate N. nipae, along with other mealybugs, scale insects and aphids, from tropical cut flowers and foliage before shipment. A series of insecticidal dips were tested and the most effective was found to be a combination dip for at least 5 minutes in an insecticidal soap composed of potassium salts of fatty acids with fluvalinate (Hansen et al., 1992a). Vapour heat treatment was found to kill mealybug adults and nymphs after 1 hour at 46.6°C; and nymphs were killed after 2 hours at 45.2°C (Hansen et al., 1992b). Hydrogen cyanide fumigation treatment was found to kill N. nipae nymphs on palms (Hansen et al., 1991).
Infestations of N. nipae were eliminated in coconut plantations by chemically controlling Azteca ants which maintained and protected the mealybug colonies (Raj, 1977).
Biological Control
Bartlett (1978) records successful biological control of N. nipae in Hawaii by Pseudaphycus utilis. In Puerto Rico some improvement was reported following the introduction of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, but good control was later obtained with the establishment of P. utilis (Bartlett, 1978).
References
Top of pageAPPPC, 1987. Insect pests of economic significance affecting major crops of the countries in Asia and the Pacific region. Technical Document No. 135. Bangkok, Thailand: Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific region (RAPA).
Bartlett BR, 1978. Pseudococcidae. In: Clausen CP, ed. Introduced Parasites and Predators of Arthropod Pests and Weeds: a World Review. Agriculture Handbook No. 480, 137-170.
Beardsley JW, 1960. A preliminary study of the males of some Hawaiian mealybugs (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society, 17:199-243.
CIE, 1966. Distribution Maps of Pests, Series A, No. 220. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.
Williams DJ, 1985. Australian mealybugs. London, UK; British Museum (Natural History), 431 pp.
Williams DJ, 2004. Mealybugs of Southern Asia. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Southdene SDN, 442-445.
Distribution References
APPPC, 1987. Insect pests of economic significance affecting major crops of the countries in Asia and the Pacific region. In: Technical Document No. 135, Bangkok, Thailand: Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific region (RAPA).
CABI, Undated. Compendium record. Wallingford, UK: CABI
CABI, Undated a. CABI Compendium: Status inferred from regional distribution. Wallingford, UK: CABI
CABI, Undated b. CABI Compendium: Status as determined by CABI editor. Wallingford, UK: CABI
Distribution Maps
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