Mealybug species (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) on soursop and sugar apple (Annonaceae) in North-East Brazil, with description of a new species of Pseudococcus Westwood

Several species of Annonaceae are economically important fruit-tree crops in North-East Brazil, including Pernambuco state. However, in several regions within the state, the fruits are commonly infested by mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae). There is a lack of information about the mealybug species damaging this produce, so a survey of mealybug species associated with commercial sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.) and soursop (A. muricata L.) was conducted in the main production areas. The species Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell), Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), Planococcus minor (Maskell), Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley and Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi Gimpel & Miller were found on both Annona species. Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell), Ferrisia dayslirii Kaydan & Gullan and Ferrisia malvastra (MacDaniel) were found only on soursop; and Ferrisia cristinae Kaydan & Gullan, Planococcus citri (Risso), Pseudococcus annonae sp. n. Pacheco da Silva & Kaydan and Pseudococcus sp. were found only on sugar apple. The species F. cristinae, F. dasylirii, F. malvastra and Ph. solenopsis are recorded infesting these hosts for the first time. The most abundant mealybug species found were F. virgata, Pl. minor, Ps. jackbeardsleyi and M. hirsutus, often forming heavy infestations and damaging the fruits. A new species, Pseudococcus annonae sp. n. Pacheco da Silva & Kaydan, is described and illustrated, and an identification key to the mealybug genera occurring on annonaceous species in the Neotropical region is also provided. Copyright © 2019 Magnolia Press.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior: 179923 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorWe thank Dr. Valdir de Queiroz Balbino and Dr. Heidi Lacerda Alves da Cruz, both from the LABBE/UFPE, for their support during the molecular analysis. This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamen-to de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) through research funds to JBT and a scholarship to VCPS (CAPES PROCAD NF No. 179923). The research data and species received the register number AD77A94 in SisGen (Siste-ma Nacional de Gestão do Patrimônio Genético)