**Vine Mealybugs** (*Planococcus ficus*) are small, soft-bodied insects covered in white, waxy filaments. They are highly significant pests of **grapevines** and figs. The conflict is **virus transmission and fruit contamination**: they suck phloem sap, weakening the vine, but their main impact is vectoring devastating viruses, most notably **Grapevine Leafroll-Associated Viruses (GLRaV)**. They also excrete sticky honeydew, which promotes the growth of black sooty mold, contaminating and reducing the market value of the fruit.
Taxonomy and Classification
Vine Mealybugs belong to the Order Hemiptera (True Bugs) and the Family Pseudococcidae. They undergo simple metamorphosis. They are closely associated with ants that “farm” them for honeydew.
Physical Description
Adult females are small, 3 mm to 5 mm long.
- **Adult Female (Key ID):** Oval, pinkish-brown body covered in a white, cottony wax; short filaments around the perimeter; found clustered in tight groups, often protected under bark or between fruit clusters.
- **Damage ID (Key):** Sticky honeydew on foliage/fruit; black sooty mold growth; reddish/purplish leaf discoloration (symptom of Leafroll Virus).
- **Vector Status:** Key vector for Grapevine Leafroll Virus (GLRaV).
- **Conflict:** Agricultural (Viticulture).
Distribution and Habitat
Found worldwide in grape-growing regions (California, South Africa, Australia). Habitat is the protected areas of the vine: under bark, at cane bases, and deep within the fruit clusters.
Behavior and Conflict
The conflict is their protection and mobility.
- **Cryptic Nature:** They are protected by bark and waxy coating, and their feeding sites are difficult to reach with spray applications.
- **Ant Association:** Ants aggressively protect the mealybugs from natural predators, complicating biological control efforts.
Management and Prevention
Management is **Integrated Pest Management (IPM) with Systemics**.
- Application of **systemic insecticides** as a soil drench or trunk injection to deliver the chemical directly to the phloem sap.
- Release and conservation of specialist parasitic wasps (*Anagyrus* spp.) and predatory beetles (e.g., Mealybug Destroyer).
Conservation and Research
Research is focused on eradicating GLRaV from nursery stock, developing treatments that target the mealybug’s wax coating, and managing the associated ant populations.