Discussion:A Bamboo Mealybug - Palmicultor lumpurensis

[bamboojohn]

Edit note: Palmicultor lumpurensis aka Trionymus lumpurensis

Reference:Pest Alert(USA):A Bamboo Mealybug on Bambusa oldhamii (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=683)
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We have had mealy bug pop up on many bamboos ever since we have been growing them, 15 years or so. Is this a new mealy bug, or did someone just finally log it?

[Mark Meckes]

Hi bamboojohn,
"Barbara Wilder collected this new Continental US Record on August 12, 2002 ....Since that date, surveys have found additional infestations.'

I can't imagine it was eradicated, and no idea how far it has spread.

I've been searching for a mealybug family tree, to try and understand the relationship between the species that we already know inhibat bamboo in the US.
What mealy bug species are you familar with?
Mark

[bamboojohn]

Hehe,

No idea of the species, just the kind to kill. I manually pick and destroy them out of the new emerging shoots and spray with high pressure hose to keep them in check. I introduced lots of ladybugs and crypts to my growing area to help as well. Ladybugs eat the mealybug eggs and crypts (also in the ladybug family) eat the live adults.

I wanted to treat with Horticultural oil, but you can't use that in shooting season, will constipate new growth. I will treat late fall. If that doesn't help, I will use a little Merritt combined with the hort oil, just hate to use powerful chemicals unless I have to.

John