A brief account of the hibiscus mealybugMaconellicoccus hirsutus(Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), a pest of agriculture and horticulture, with descriptions of two related species from southern Asia

The mealybug Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) occurs in many tropical and subtropical parts of the Old World and extends into some temperate areas. It has now reached the West Indies where it is causing extensive damage to plants. There is concern that it may be introduced to the southern USA and to Central and South America. A brief account is given of reported damage caused by M. hirsutus to some commercial and food crops in Asia and Africa and the species is redescribed. M. multipori (Takahashi), now known from a wide area in southern Asia, is redescribed, and M. ramchensis sp. n. from Nepal, is described as new. These two species are closely related to M. hirsutus and can easily be mistaken for it. M. hirsutus and M. multipori are sometimes intercepted at quarantine inspection of plants and plant produce in the USA and Europe. In order to aid identification, a key is provided to the eight species presently included in the genus Maconellicoccus Ezzat.