The cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley 1898 (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) invades greenhouse vegetables in Syrian coast region

Abstract

The cotton mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley) is an invasive plant pest that infects 168 plant hosts belonging to 52 families worldwide. The spread of the cotton mealybug P. solenopsis as a new invasive species was recorded in the Syrian coast on several plant hosts, in 4 locations in Tartous Governorate. These hosts included fruit trees, wild herbs, field crops, ornamental plants, and greenhouses, and were mainly concentrated on tomato and eggplant plants, accompanied by severe infestations on 15 plants species infected with the pest, such as: Tomato Lycopersicum esculentum (Solanaceae), Eggplant (Solanaceae) Lycopersicum melongena, Pepper  Capsicum annuum (Solanaceae), Cucumber Cucumis sativus (Cucurbitaceae), Turmeric Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae), Amaranthus viridis (Amaranthaceae), Bean Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae), Cowpea Vigna unguiculata (Fabaceae), Okra Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Malvaceae), Okra Abelmoschus esculentus (Malvaceae), Purslane  Portulaca oleracea (Portulacaceae), Dragon fruit Selenicereus undatus (Cactaceae), Mallow Corchorus olitoriu Tiliaceae, Bananas Musa basjoso (Musaceae), Lantana camara (Verbenaceae). Noticing the spread of this insect on several plant families on the Syrian coast prompted us to survey it in some areas, especially those locally cultivated in greenhouses.