Report of the pineapple mealybug, Dysmicoccus brevipes (Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) as a quarantine pest in date palm groves from Khuzestan province, Iran

Abstract

The quarantine pest, Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) is recorded for the first time on the roots of date tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.) from Ahvaz, Khuzestan province. The adult females and different nymphal instars were found on the aerial roots of date palms varieties during the hot and humid summerof summerof 2023. The pest establishment could represent a serious threat to many subtropical fruits, especially sugarcane, which is one of the strategic products in this area.

Keywords

• hemiptera
• coccomorpha
• invasion
• plant virus
• vector