Noxious Bamboo Mealybug - Antonina pretiosa

[Mark Meckes]

Antonina pretiosa - Noxious Bamboo Mealybug
Photo Location: Central Texas USA 2004
Distribution: (USA) extensive - Range undetermined

Antonina pretiosa - Noxious Bamboo Mealybug on Phyllostachys nigra.
Leaves often get coated by a black `sooty mold', which apparently is spread by ants which feed on the nector produced by the mealybugs.
Thei filamentous tail is most pronounced during their prime breeding/feeding season but is not always as evident.

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/536/1MVC-121F1.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=874)

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/536/thumbs/1MVC-119F.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=875) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/536/thumbs/1MVC-118F.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=876) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/536/thumbs/1MVC-117F.JPG ( http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=877) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/536/thumbs/1MVC-115F1.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=878)