Nipaecoccus nipae (Maskell), an invasive mealybug attacking agricultural crops and forest trees [in the Philippines]

The occurrence of the buff coconut mealybug (BCM), Nipaecoccus nipae (Maskell), in the Philippines is reported for the first time both as a new faunal record and a new pest of economically important agricultural crops, mainly coconut, various fruit and ornamental crops, and forest tree species including some native palms. N. nipae is polyhagous and in the four-year survey of the pest, 46 plant species belonging to 14 plant families were found infested by the insect. Damage is effected by the insect through: 1) direct sucking of the plant sap, 2) production of a copious amount of sticky honeydew, which accumulates on the other parts of the host plant and those plants growing below or directly under the infested plant parts, and 3) growth and development of sooty molds on the accumulated honeydew. All these types of damage cause simultaneous and mutually confounding stresses on the host plant. This complex damage causes leaves to wither and gradually turn brown, a symptom termed mealybug burn. The most seriously affected among economically important crops is coconut, especially those palms being tapped for tuba wine. Among palms in general, however, the fishtail palms (Caryota cumingii Lodd. ex Mart and Caryota rumphiana Mart. var. philippinensis Becc.) are the most susceptible, followed by the cane or golden palm (Dypsis lutescens (H. Wendl.) Beenthe and J. Drarsf.), the bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii Burret) and the royal palm (Roystonea regia (HBK) O. F. Cook). The pest is confirmed to be present in four southern Tagalog provinces and in Davao area in Mindanao. No natural enemies were observed during the study. The taxonomy of Philippine mealybugs found on coconut, including BCM, is reviewed. Other species of scale insects that may be mistaken for mealybugs, such as iceryine giant scales (Margarodidae) and felt scales (Eriococcidae), are also included. The occurrence of Sangicoccus truncatis pinus (Reyne) (Eriococcidae) in the Philippines is confirmed. New common names are proposed for standard use to refer specifically to each coconut-associated species to facilitate extension and communication efforts.