البق الدقيقي | Mealy bugs

البق الدقيقي

Pseudococcidea :الإسم العلمي

البق الدقيق يُصنّف كحشرة قشرية، تؤثر على النباتات من خلال استخلاص عصارة النبات، مما يؤثر بالتالي على الصحة العامة للنبات.

أنواع البق الدقيقي:

مظهر الحشرة: البق الدقيقي له شكل بيضاوي، مميز بوجود مادة بيضاء على جسمه للتعرف عليه وحمايته.

علامات الإصابة بالبق الدقيقي:

النباتات المتأثرة: يمكن للبق الدقيقي أن يؤثر على مجموعة متنوعة من المحاصيل، بما في ذلك الباذنجان والبطاطس والجزر والخس والخيار والموالح والموز والتفاح.

تدابير السيطرة:

Mealy bugs

Mealy bugs are categorized as crustacean insects, affecting plants by extracting plant sap and consequently impacting the overall health of the plant.

Types:

1. Citrus Mealybug: Affects citrus, mango, and grapes.
2. Sugarcane Mealybug: Targets sugarcane, influencing sugar content.
3. Hairy Mealybug: Found in guava, passion fruit, and berries.
4. Long-Tailed Mealybug: Distinguished by its long tail.
5. Australian Mealybug: Indigenous to Australia.

Insect Appearance: Mealy bugs have an oval shape, characterized by a white substance on their bodies for identification and protection.

Signs of Mealy Bug Infestation:

• Presence of white clusters on stems, branches, leaves, or fruits.
• Stunted plant growth.
• Leaf curling, yellowing, and fruit drop.
• Secretion of honeydew, posing a risk of fungal and bacterial infections.
• Honeydew attracts ants, contributing to further spread.

Plants Affected: Mealy bugs can affect various crops, including eggplant, potato, carrot, lettuce, cucumber, citrus, banana, and apple.

Control Measures:

1. Adhere to preventive measures by ensuring healthy seedlings and eliminating weeds.
2. Remove and dispose of any infected plants promptly.
3. Consider using agricultural soap for light infestations.
4. During winter, apply a spray of mineral oil with malathion57% to cleanse trees.

Chemical Control for Increased Infestation:

1. Chlorpyrifos 48%
2. Imidacloprid
3. Acetamiprid
4. Lambda-cyhalothrin 5% with mineral oil.

It is crucial to follow these measures to combat mealy bug infestations effectively.