Lebbeck Mealybug
Lebbeck mealybug (Nipaecoccus viridis), also known as hibiscus mealybug (Entomological Society of America’s accepted common name), and worldwide as spherical mealybug, was first found causing damage in commercial citrus groves in Florida in 2019. This pest was first found in Highlands County and has now been documented in 25 counties in Florida and on multiple host crops.
Adult females can produce upwards of 600 eggs in her lifetime, with eggs protected within a thick, waxy ovisac. It then progresses through several nymphal stages over 14 or more days depending on host and environmental conditions.
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More information on life stages can be found here: Citrus Pest Quick Guide: Lebbeck Mealybug Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead)
In citrus, damage includes mild to severe fruit damage, the extent of which is determined by the abundance of mealybugs and when the infestation occurs during fruit development, leaf distortions, and branch dieback.
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