This study investigated the fumigant activity of phosphine (PH3) on 2 kinds of mealybug (Pseudococcus longispinus and P. orchidicola (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)) adults and nymphs. All of the two mealybugs adults showed higher LCT99 values than nymphs, and P. longispinus showed higher tolerance than P. orchidicola in a 12 L desiccator. The absorption of phosphine on 13 nursery plants showed 12.2~41.5% difference depending on the plant. All of the mealybugs treated with phosphine 2 mg/L in 0.5 m3 fumigation chamber for 4 h showed 100% fumigant activity, except P. longispinus adult (approximately 90% at bottom part). However, when the exposure time was increased to 24 h, all of them showed 100% mortality. In the treatment of 10 m3 container, the 24 h treatment of phosphine showed 100% mortality to P. longispinus and P. orchidicola adults and nymphs. In all the experiments, no phytotoxicity of phosphine observed on 13 plants until 1 month after treatment.

A combination using phosphine (PH3) and ethyl formate (EF) was performed to compensate for the disadventages (long exposure time and phytotoxicity) of a single substance. P. longisipinus was more susceptible to mixed phosphine and ethyl formate than P. orchidicola in 12 L dessicator. Mortality of mixed treatment was higher than aggregated mortalities that treated individually, so it indicated to have a synergic effect on each other. Ethyl formate was showed higher adsorption rate than phosphine on imported nursery plants and showed differences depending on the plant. P. longispinus and P. orchidicola was showed 100% mortality when phosphine and ethyl formate was treated as 1 g/m3 and 30 g/m3 for 4 hour in 0.5 m3 fumigation chamber and in 10 m3 container. Phytotoxicity was evaluated to mixture of phosphine and ethyl formate at 1 month after treatment.

국내 분포조사가 되어 있지 않은 긴꼬리가루깍지벌레와 붉은몸긴꼬리가루깍지벌레를 대상으로 3년간(2015~2017년) 281지점의 관엽식물과 666지점의 과수를 조사하였다. 관엽식물의 경우 긴꼬리가루깍지벌레는 34지점에서 발견되었고, 붉은몸긴꼬리가루깍지벌레는 87지점에서 발견되었으나 과수에서는 두 종 모두 발견되지 않았다. 분포조사를 통해 채집한 긴꼬리가루깍지벌레와 붉은몸긴꼬리가루깍지벌레는 실내사육하며 온도별 발육특성을 조사하였다. 긴꼬리가루깍지벌레 암컷 약충은 14℃에서 정상적인 발육을 하지 못하였으며, 16℃에서는 361.4일로 발육 기간이 가장 길었으며 32℃에서는 39.0일로 가장 짧았다. 긴꼬리가루깍지벌레 암컷 성충수명은 28℃에서 71.7일로 가장 짧았으며, 산자수의 경우 32℃에서 177.7마리로 가장 많았다. 붉은몸긴꼬리가루깍지벌레 암컷 약충은 12℃에서 정상적인 발육을 하지 못하였으며 14℃에서 184.9일로 발육기간이 가장 길었으며, 28℃에서는 21.5일로 가장 짧았다. 붉은몸긴꼬리가루깍지벌레 암컷 성충수명은 28℃에서 51.5일로 가장 짧았으며, 산자수의 경우 28℃에서 143.8마리로 가장 많았다. 세대순증가율(R0)과 내적자연증가율(rm)은 긴꼬리가루깍지벌레는 각각 32℃에서 162.3, 0.127이며, 붉은몸긴꼬리가루깍지벌레는 각각 28℃에서 98.3, 0.139로 가장 크게 나타났다. 따라서, 긴꼬리가루깍지벌레와 붉은몸긴꼬리가루깍지벌레의 최적 온도는 각각 32℃와 28℃로 판단되며 국내에서의 월동은 불가능한 것으로 보인다.

We investigated if Pseudococcus viburni and P. longispinus, the two notorious pest species of mealybugs are foundin Korea. Our survey involved a total of 602 sites all over the country for the last three years. Pseudococcus viburniwas only once referred in Gimpel’s 1983 dissertation on P. affinis group: only one record was noted from Korea amongmany specimens from various countries. However, the species has never been reported from Korea for the last severaldecades and none was found in our thorough survey. We believe there was a misidentification, as noted by the authorregarding the species complex, and conclude that P. viburni does not occur in Korea. On the other hand, P. longispinushas been found in 36 sites, all from imported tropical houseplants in a green house or nurseries. In addition, anothersimilar species has been found from 86 sites. This unknown species was surprisingly best matched with P. orchidicola.Both species could not survive Korea’s harsh winter and they could only survive in a temperature-controlled place suchas nurseries and restaurants.

Pseudococcus orchidicola and Pseudococcus longispinus, a notorious cosmopolitan pest species of mealybugs, known to be distributed indoors in Korea. The effect of temperature on the development of P. orchidicola and P. longispinus was studied. The duration of nymphal period of the two mealybugs at 24 and 28℃ have been recorded. Developmental duration of P. longispinus was longer than P. orchidicola in both females and males. The adult longevity was estimated to 74.9 and 91.1 days at 24℃ for P. orchidicola and P. longispinus, respectively. The average fecundity per female was greater at 28℃. The survival of P. orchidicola and P. longispinus during winter at outdoor was failed.

Pseudococcus longispinus, a notorious cosmopolitan pest species of mealybugs, known to be distributed indoors in Korea since 2002, is found to be mixed with another species, Pseudococcus orchidicola. Finding P. orchidicola as a pest of tropical plants in Korea is rather unexpected because of their main distribution in Pacific area and South Asia. However, all the available information from morphology, molecule and advices on identification from mealybug specialists indicated this is best matching P. orchidicola. Morphological, molecular and some biological notes on P. orchidicola are provided with some adult and nymphal images, and compared with P. longispinus. A full discussion mainly on identity and distribution of P. orchidicola is given.

Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are major pests of a wide range of crops and ornamental plants worldwide, and represented by 56 species in Korea. Occurrence of, or damage by, the longtailed mealybug, Pseudococcus longispinus Targioni-Tozzetti has not been reported since 2002. However, for the first time in many years, P. longispinus was reported at Phalaenopsis orchids by Kim et al in 2015. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the distribution of P. longispinus which is usually found inside a greenhouse or a building where the host plants are. We have collected 129 mealybug samples at 254 sites from Korea. Among these, 27 of P. longispinus and 62 of an unidentified Pseudococcus species were found mainly in ornamental plants such as Heteropanax fragrans, commonly known as happy trees in Korea. Morphological characteristics of the unidentified mealybug were very similar to those of P. longispinus. However, the genetic variability in COI sequence comparison was significantly different between the two species. Further studies are needed to clarify the valid name for this unidentified species, and we are currently working on it.