Due to their small size and cryptic habits, alien mealybugs (Insecta: Hemiptera:
Pseudococcidae) can easily enter countries around the Mediterranean basin through
trade in live planting material and fresh produce. The recent increase in mealybug
introductions probably reflects ever-faster transport in globalised trade, the free
movement of goods within the European Union and the weakness of plant quarantine
screening by national plant protection organisations. Purchases over the Internet,
shipments of plants by post and exchanges of material by plant hobbyists escape
control by quarantine services and contribute substantially to mealybug introductions
on plants like bamboos and succulents.peer-reviewe
