Mark Meckes
14th October 2004, 08:11 AM
Date 2004
The bamboo mealybug Palmicultor lumpurensis has been observed growing on bamboo spp in central to southern regions of Texas.
It has recently been observed and identified on bamboo plants in a public park in Travis County TX.
(Previously detected in Florida 2002 >) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=683)
Photos
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/1041012-12BmplxMlylmp.JPG
Photo#1 (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=863)
1) Showing mealybugs at top portion of sheath, under sheath blade.
At the shoot emerges, the sheath is tightly clasped, and the mealybug is only able to feed and nest under the sheath blade. (tip)
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/1041012-20BmplxMlylmp.JPG
Photo #2 (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=864)
2)Sheath removed. Note the smaller juvenile mealybugs below the larger ones.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/1041012-21BmplxMlylmp.JPG
Photo#3 (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=865)
3)After the first 2-3 weeks, the lower culm sheaths gradually become detached from the culm, enabling the mealybugs to progress further down, under the sheath.
Note the furrowed ridges near the top of the culm. This shoot is in it's final stages of aborting.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/1041012-10BmplxMlylmp.JPG
Photo#4 (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=866)
4) As the shoot grows, the mealybug population rises higher due to the telescoping action of the culm.
By the time that the shoot has risen more then half of it's final height, the culm sheaths are not as tightly clasped, because branch buds are also forming under the sheath at the nodes. This makes it easier for the mealybugs to work their way under the culm sheaths, increasing their population.
The bamboo mealybug Palmicultor lumpurensis has been observed growing on bamboo spp in central to southern regions of Texas.
It has recently been observed and identified on bamboo plants in a public park in Travis County TX.
(Previously detected in Florida 2002 >) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=683)
Photos
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/1041012-12BmplxMlylmp.JPG
Photo#1 (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=863)
1) Showing mealybugs at top portion of sheath, under sheath blade.
At the shoot emerges, the sheath is tightly clasped, and the mealybug is only able to feed and nest under the sheath blade. (tip)
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/1041012-20BmplxMlylmp.JPG
Photo #2 (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=864)
2)Sheath removed. Note the smaller juvenile mealybugs below the larger ones.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/1041012-21BmplxMlylmp.JPG
Photo#3 (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=865)
3)After the first 2-3 weeks, the lower culm sheaths gradually become detached from the culm, enabling the mealybugs to progress further down, under the sheath.
Note the furrowed ridges near the top of the culm. This shoot is in it's final stages of aborting.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/535/thumbs/1041012-10BmplxMlylmp.JPG
Photo#4 (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=866)
4) As the shoot grows, the mealybug population rises higher due to the telescoping action of the culm.
By the time that the shoot has risen more then half of it's final height, the culm sheaths are not as tightly clasped, because branch buds are also forming under the sheath at the nodes. This makes it easier for the mealybugs to work their way under the culm sheaths, increasing their population.