Ability to Respond Total:17 / 25Ability to Respond = ( Ease of Response + Tools in Place )
Confidence:High
Confidence Notes:
Impact
Spread
Notes
Score
Spread Rate
Natural spread is relatively slow, not strong fliers, movement would be facilitated by human activities and on ornamental plants; can also be wind-dispersed, the high number of hosts with possibilities for movement in trade and travel is problematic.
4
Spread Amount
Found in the Afrotropical, Australasian, Nearctic, Neotropical, and Oriental regions, not present in the US but as close as Mexico, Bermuda, and Virgin Islands; should survive well in much of CA, especially the Central Valley.
5
Damage
Notes
Score
Ecological
Increased insecticide usage would result to manage this pest if it established - this would threaten environmental quality; this mealybug would also damage several native plants.
3
Agricultural
Has 250 host plants including banana, citrus, cocoa, coffee, corn, grape, mango, potato, various cucurbits, several bean types, and numerous ornamentals.
5
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
Several garden plants and ornamental plants would be affected.
2
Health
0
Benefit
Notes
Score
Ecological
0
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
0
Health
0
Total
19
Ability to Respond
Ease of Response
Notes
Score
Detection
Surveys require "time-consuming and often laborious examination of plant material for the presence of live mealybugs", some passive traps can capture/monitor males; sex pheromones have been identified; molecular diagnostic work needed for positive id.
2
Control
Mealybugs are generally difficult to control - insecticides, biological control, cultural controls play roles but the overall result is often moderate without significant investment of time and resources.
