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'''Mealybug''' is the common name of insects in '''Pseudococcidae''', a [[family (biology)|family]] of unarmored [[scale insect]]s found in moist, warm climates. They are considered [[pest (animal)|pest]]s as they feed on plant juices of [[greenhouse]] plants, house plants and subtropical trees.

'''Mealybug''' is the common name of insects in '''Pseudococcidae''', a [[family (biology)|family]] of unarmored [[scale insect]]s found in moist, warm climates. They are considered [[pest (animal)|pest]]s as they feed on plant juices of [[greenhouse]] plants, house plants and subtropical trees.

Mealybugs are [[Sexual dimorphism|sexually dimorphic]], meaning that the sexes have distinct morphological differences. Females are nymphal, exhibit reduced morphology, and are wingless, though unlike many female scale insects, they often retain legs and can move. The females do not change completely and are likely to be [[neoteny|neotenic]] (exhibiting nymphal characteristics). Males are winged and do change completely during their lives.  Since mealybugs (as well as all other [[Hemiptera]]) are [[hemimetabolous]] insects, they do not undergo complete metamorphosis in the true sense of the word, i.e. there are no clear larval, pupal and adult stages, and the wings do not develop internally.  However, male mealybugs do exhibit a radical change during their life cycle, changing from wingless, ovoid nymphs to "wasp-like" flying adults.

Mealybugs are sexually dimorphic, meaning that the sexes have distinct morphological differences. Females are nymphal, exhibit reduced morphology, and are wingless, though unlike many female scale insects, they often retain legs and can move. The females do not change completely and are likely to be neotenic (exhibiting nymphal characteristics). Males are winged and do change completely during their lives.  Since mealybugs (as well as all other [[Hemiptera]]) are [[hemimetabolous]] insects, they do not undergo complete metamorphosis in the true sense of the word, i.e. there are no clear larval, pupal and adult stages, and the wings do not develop internally.  However, male mealybugs do exhibit a radical change during their life cycle, changing from wingless, ovoid nymphs to "wasp-like" flying adults.

Mealybug females feed on plant sap, normally in roots or other crevices. They attach themselves to the plant and secrete a powdery [[wax]] layer (therefore the name '''mealy'''bug) used for protection while they suck the plant juices. The males on the other hand, are short-lived as they do not feed at all as adults and only live to fertilize the females. Male citrus mealy bugs fly to the females and resemble fluffy [[gnats]].

Mealybug females feed on plant sap, normally in roots or other crevices. They attach themselves to the plant and secrete a powdery wax layer (therefore the name '''mealy'''bug) used for protection while they suck the plant juices. The males on the other hand, are short-lived as they do not feed at all as adults and only live to fertilize the females. Male citrus mealy bugs fly to the females and resemble fluffy [[gnats]].

Some [[species]] of mealybug lay their [[Egg (biology)|egg]]s in the same waxy layer used for protection in quantities of 50–100; other species are born directly from the female.

Some [[species]] of mealybug lay their eggs in the same waxy layer used for protection in quantities of 50–100; other species are born directly from the female.

The most serious pests are mealybugs that feed on [[citrus]]; other species damage [[sugarcane]], [[grapes]], [[pineapple]] (Jahn et al. 2003), [[coffee|coffee trees]], [[cassava]], [[fern]]s, [[cacti]], [[gardenia]]s and [[orchid]]s.  Mealybugs only tend to be serious pests in the presence of ants because the ants protect them from predators and parasites.  Mealybugs also infest some species of [[carnivorous plant]] such as ''[[Sarracenia]]'' (pitcher plants), in such cases it is difficult to eradicate them without repeated applications of [[insecticide]] such as [[diazinon]]. Small infestations may not inflict significant damage. In larger amounts though, they can induce leaf drop.

The most serious pests are mealybugs that feed on [[citrus]]; other species damage [[sugarcane]], [[grapes]], [[pineapple]] (Jahn et al. 2003), [[coffee|coffee trees]], [[cassava]], [[fern]]s, [[cacti]], [[gardenia]]s and [[orchid]]s.  Mealybugs only tend to be serious pests in the presence of ants because the ants protect them from predators and parasites.  Mealybugs also infest some species of [[carnivorous plant]] such as ''[[Sarracenia]]'' (pitcher plants), in such cases it is difficult to eradicate them without repeated applications of [[insecticide]] such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diazinon diazinon]. Small infestations may not inflict significant damage. In larger amounts though, they can induce leaf drop.

==Species include==

==Species include==