가루깍지벌레류인 Pseudococcus viburni Signoret (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)는 포도원과 다른 과실 과원에도 피해를 주는 국제적 해충 이다. 이 종은 한국에서 오랫동안 격리되어 왔으며 야외에서의 발생기록은 전혀 없다. 본 연구에서는 한국에서의 P. viburni 부재를 확인하기 위해 전국적으로 감 과수원 533사이트, 사과 및 기타 과수원 144사이트, 묘목원 및 온실 281사이트를 지난 3년간(2015-2017) 조사하였다. 그 결과 P. viburni는 한국의 야외에서나 묘목원 등에서 발생되지 않는 것으로 확인되어 이를 보고한다.

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.