Resumen

MARTINEZ RIVERO, María de los Ángeles. THE PINK HIBISCUS MEALYBUG, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (GREEN), A POTENTIAL DANGER FOR THE CUBAN AGRICULTURE. Rev. Protección Veg. [online]. 2007, vol.22, n.3, pp.166-182. ISSN 1010-2752.

Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), well-known as pink hibiscus mealybug, constitutes a new species in the Neotropical region. It is associated to 73 plant families in more than 200 genera; thus it is considered as a highly polyphagous species. Due to the increasing importance from the reports on the economic impact caused in the Caribbean subregion, the damages and significant losses it has provoked, especially in Grenade Island and its quick dissemination in the area; a permanent surveillance should be established to prevent its possible introduction in our national territory. For such a reason, the present work constitutes another alternative in currently spreading the main characteristics of this exotic mealybug, which can be transformed into a potential danger for our agriculture. Also, the methods for its control are approached, making emphasis in the biological control and in some of the actions made by the country to delay and/or diminish introduction risks.

Palabras clave : Maconellicoccus hirsutus; distribution; damages; dissemination; hosts; biological control.

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