Obscure mealybug feeds on a wide range of herbaceous and woody
host plants. This includes some shelter species, such as willows,
and careful selection of non-host shelter species (e.g. Casuarina,
bamboo), or shelter species resistant to mealybugs, can make a
useful contribution to cultural
control. Obscure mealybug is also a pest of many different
indoor and greenhouse plants. The list of host plants in the
Table is not exhaustive but illustrates the range of plants on
which obscure mealybugs are found.
| Family |
Host
plants |
| Amaryllidaceae |
blood lilly, Haemanthus sp. |
Hippeastrum sp. |
| Annonaceae |
cherimoya, Annona cherimolia |
|
| Apiaceae |
wild carrot, Daucus carota |
|
| Apocynaceae |
Mandevillea sp. |
|
| Araliaceae |
ivy, Hedera helix |
|
| Asclepiadaceae |
Asclepias physocarpa |
hoya, Hoya carnosa |
| Asteraceae |
Artemisia sp. |
Aster glutinosa |
| |
Commidendrum robustum |
Cynara scolymus |
| |
dahlia, Dahlia sp. |
gerbera, Gerbera sp. |
| |
Gynura aurantiaca |
Helianthus tuberosus |
| |
salsify, Tragopogon porrifolius |
yarrow, Achillea millefolium |
| Bignoniaceae |
trumpet creeper, Bignonia sp. |
|
| Bromeliaceae |
pineapple, Ananas comosus |
|
| Buxaceae |
jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis |
|
| Cactaceae |
prickly pear, Opuntia ficus-indica |
Quiabentia chacoensis |
| Caesalpiniaceae |
Bauhinia sp. |
|
| Caprifoliaceae |
laurustinus, Viburnum tinus |
|
| Caricaceae |
papaya, pawpaw, Carica papaya |
|
| Caryophyllaceae |
carnation, Dianthus caryophyllus |
procumbent pearlwort, Sagina
procumbens |
| Chenopodiaceae |
Beta vulgaris |
|
| Cucurbitaceae |
Cucurbita pepo |
Sechium edule |
| Cyperaceae |
purple nutsedge, nutgrass, Cyperus
rotundus |
|
| Ebenaceae |
persimmon, Diospyros kaki |
|
| Euphorbiaceae |
Manihot esculenta |
poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima |
| |
Schizogyne sericea |
|
| Fabaceae |
cockspur coral tree, Erythrina
crista-galli |
Dolichos sp. |
| |
false acacia, Robinia
pseudo-acacia |
Glycine max |
| |
gorse, Ulex europaeus |
Inga sp. |
| |
Judas tree, Cercis siliquastrum |
laburnum, Laburnum sp. |
| |
lucerne, Medicago sativa |
Sesbania punicea |
| |
strawberry clover, Trifolium
fragiferum |
sweet clover, Melilotus albus |
| Geraniaceae |
Geranium sp. |
Pelargonium sp |
| Gesneriaceae |
African violet, Saintpaulia
sp. |
Streptocarpus sp. |
| Graminae |
Triodia pungens |
|
| Iridaceae |
Gladiolus sp. |
|
| Juglandaceae |
walnut, Juglans regia |
|
| Lauraceae |
laurel, Laurus cerasus |
|
| Loranthaceae |
Notanthera sp. |
|
| Myoporaceae |
boobialla, ngaio, Myoporum
sp. |
|
| Myrtaceae |
Eugenia jaboticaba |
gum, Eucalyptus sp. |
| |
Myrceugenia sp. |
|
| Nyctaginaceae |
Bougainvillea sp. |
|
| Oleaceae |
ash, Fraxinus sp. |
jasmine, Jasminium sp. |
| Oleandraceae |
Nephrolepis sp. |
|
| Onagraceae |
fuchsia, Fuchsia sp. |
|
| Passifloraceae |
passionflower, Passiflora caerulea |
passionflower, Passiflora edulis |
| Phytolaccaceae |
ombu, bella sombra tree, Phytolacca
dioica |
|
| Pittosporaceae |
Pittosporum sp. |
Japanese mock orange, Pittosporum
tobira |
| Polygonaceae |
cornbind?, Polygonum (Fallopia?)
convolvulus |
dock, Rumex spp. |
| Primulaceae |
cyclamen, Cyclamen sp. |
|
| Punicaceae |
pomegranate, Punica granatum |
|
| Ranunculaceae |
buttercup, Ranunculus sp. |
columbine, Aquilegia sp. |
| Rosaceae |
apple, Malus
spp. |
apple, Malus
x domestica (=Malus pumila) |
| |
apple, Malus
sylvestris |
European pear, Pyrus
communis |
| |
European plum, Prunus
domestica |
firethorn, Pyracantha
yumancuris |
| |
Japanese plum, Prunus
salicina |
nectarine, Prunus
persica var. nucipersica
|
| |
peach, Prunus
persica |
raspberry, Rubus
idaeus |
| |
strawberry, Fragaria
sp. |
|
| Rubiaceae |
bouvardia, Bouvardia sp. |
coffee, Coffea sp. |
| Rutaceae |
citrus, Citrus spp. |
Citrus reticulata |
| |
grapefruit, Citrus paradisi |
lemon, Citrus limon |
| |
lime, Citrus aurantifolia |
orange, Citrus sinensis |
| Salicaceae |
willows, Salix spp. |
|
| Sapindaceae |
lychee, Litchi sinensis |
|
| Saxifragaceae |
coral bells, Heuchera sanguinea |
pig squeak, Bergenia crassifolia |
| |
Saxifraga catalaurica |
Saxifraga grisebachii |
| |
Saxifraga hostii var.
altissima |
Saxifraga ligulata |
| |
Saxifraga longifolia |
|
| Solanaceae |
boxthorn, Lycium ferocissimum |
Lycium australe |
| |
potato, Solanum tuberosum |
Solanum giganteum |
| |
tobacco, Nicotiana colossea |
tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum |
| |
tree tomato, Cyphomandra sp. |
|
| Taxaceae |
yew, Taxus baccata |
|
| Thymeleaceae |
daphne, Daphne sp. |
|
| Vitaceae |
grape, Vitis vinifera |
|
| Zingiberaceae |
red ginger, Alpinia purpurata |
|
