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Grape >
Year-Round IPM Program > Bloom >
Identifying Mealybugs
Grape
Identifying Mealybugs
On this page
- Grape mealybug
- Obscure mealybug
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- Vine mealybug
- Longtailed mealybug
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Use the photos below to identify the various mealybug species. Pseudococcus includes
grape (all growing regions), obscure (North Coast and San Joaquin Valleys,
and longtail mealybug (Central Coast). Species in the genus Pseudococcus have parallel sides, rounded posterior and anterior ends, and the filaments
around
the body are thin and long. Also look for vine mealybug (shown below),
a Planococcus mealybug that is more
oval than Pseudococcus mealybug.
Names link to more information on identification
and management. Also view photos of natural
enemies of Pseudococcus mealybug.
Click on photos to enlarge
Grape mealybug
Identification tip: Grape mealybugs (as all Pseudococcus mealybugs)
are roughly 1/4 inch long, flat, oval shaped, and have a white waxy covering
with wax filaments sticking out from the circumference of the body. Longer
filaments from the posterior end make these mealybugs appear to have "tails."
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Obscure mealybug
Identification tip: The obscure mealybug and grape mealybug
closely resemble each other. One method of distinguishing them in
the field is to poke a female with a sharp point (without puncturing
the body) to elicit the release of a defensive excretion. If the
color of the fluid excreted is reddish orange, then it is most likely
grape mealybug; if it is clear, it is most likely obscure mealybug.
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Grape mealybug
Identification tip: The fluid that exudes from a punctured female
grape mealybug tends to be orange to red. |
The fluid that exudes from the obscure mealybug after being punctured
tends to be yellow to clear.
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Vine mealybug
Identification tip:
The body shape is oblong. The waxy filaments that protrude from the
body of the vine mealybug are shorter and appear thicker or stubbier
than those on the Pseudococcus mealybug. The vine mealybug
does not possess long tail filaments.
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Longtailed
mealybug
Identification tip: Longtailed mealybugs are similar in appearance to the
grape and obscure species, but have much longer waxy filaments on the posterior
end—as long or longer than the body of the adult female.
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