Planococcus citri (Risso, 1813)

Borg (1898; 1919; 1922a: 86) recorded this species as Dactylopius citri Signoret and D. destructor Comstock. Borg (1922a: 86) wrote that “it cannot be described as very destructive to our groves...”. He also recorded the mealybug from pear (Borg, 1922a: 242). Borg (1932) recorded it (as Pseudococcus citri (Risso)) as frequently and commonly found on citrus, Erythrina corallodendron, Phaseolus caracalla and on many other trees and shrubs in the Maltese Islands. Saliba (1963) stated that it was common on citrus, pear, grape vine and mulberry. It was also recorded by Vella (1991), Farrugia (1998) and Mifsud & Watson (1999) as occurring mainly on citrus.

Material examined. MALTA, Bir id-Deheb, 20.iii.1994, 9 ♀♀ on Dieffenbachia sp., DM ; Marsa, Għammieri, 12.ii.1997, on Cucurbita sp., GW ; Marsa, Għammieri, 12.ii.1997, 9 ♀♀ on Urtica sp., CF ; Marsa, Għammieri, 3.iv.1999, 3 ♀♀ on Citrus aurantium, CF; Luqa, 25.iii.1997, 8 ♀♀ on Geranium sp., CF ; Siggiewi, 26.x.1997, 1 ♀, DM .