Bamboo Mealybug: Palmicultor lumpurensis on Bambusa oldhamii

[Mark Meckes]

Date: - August/September 2004
Location - Texas USA

Bamboo Mealybug, Palmicultor lumpurensis has recently been found on Bambusa species at locations from central to south Texas.
(Previously detected in Florida 2002 >) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=683)

Bamboo Mealybug: Palmicultor lumpurensis - inside sheath tips of emerging Bambusa oldhamii shoots.

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/1040926-60mlybg.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=860) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/1040926-57mlybg.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=861) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/1040926-62mlybg.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=862)

[Mark Meckes]

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/1040724-95BolMlylump.JPG Photo #1 (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=858) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/1040830-56BolMlylump.JPG Photo #2 (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=859)
Photo #2 taken 5 weeks after Photo#2. Having grown only approx 3' (1m) during this period, it is showing signs of severe stunting.
During the same period, a Bambusa oldhamii plant at another location which didn't have the mealybug Palmicultor lumpurensis had new shoots that that were already 20+ ft (3m)tall.

[Mark Meckes]

A visit to Zilker Botanical Gardens on May 17 2005 determined, (possibly due to a mild previous winter) that the Bamboo mealybug - Palmicultor lumpurensis is flourishing on the Bambusa species, and could impact the growth of the soon to be emerging shoots.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/BoldP-lumpurensisZBGTX050517-350.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=1068) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/BoldP-lumpurensisZBGTX050517-354.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=1070)

Bambusa oldhamii - New side branches forming, with Palmicultor lumpurensis breeding under Bambusa oldhamii branch sheath tips of new side branches, which develop before shoots emerge.

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/P-lumpurensisZBGTX050517-337.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=1071) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/P-lumpurensisZBGTX050517-345.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=1074)
Adult Palmicultor lumpurensis mealybug??? - male/female(?)

This critter was scurrying along at a quick pace. It is certain that any new growth appearing on this 30 ft (10M) Bambusa is now inhabited by colonies of this mealybug.

[Mark Meckes]

Suggested solutions for containing this mealybug are:
- Insecticidal sprays - This will not be possible as the Bambusa oldhamii is around 30ft tall and parts are not accessible.

- Use of a systemic drench - danger with nearby fishponds - though they are encased/artificial ponds, and all plantings are downhill, though right at the edge of the ponds.

- cut down all top growth, treat new growth

- remove all infected Bambusa species and replant with new plantings when it is certain that this mealybug is no longer in the garden. They are easy plant to acquire but this would be the most labor intensive approach.

- concede that this new bamboo mealybug is here to stay and do nothing.

It hasn't been determined yet to what extent that this mealybug has spread in Austin/Travis county, though Zilker Botanical Gardens is located in a `island setting' with possibly at least a mile distance to the nearest next Bambusa species. It is not known how easily this mealybug is dispersed, ie by wind, and whether it will affect any other Genus of bamboo growing in this region.
As of this writing, it has not been detected on any other bamboo in the garden except for the Bambusa species.