Paracoccus marginatus

March 2006. The Papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus, has recently got to the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands and is causing a severe infestation. This was reported in the Saipan Truibue 24 March 2006. There were earlier outbreaks in Guam and Palau and now the Federated States of Micronesia is on high quarantine alert fearing introduction into the four States.

However, biological control has been extremely effective in controlling this mealybug on Guam and more recently in Palau. During a recent visit to Palau, an entomologist from the University of Guam was unable to find it in any of the papaya growing areas where it was abundant in Koror and Airai just a couple of years ago. In both Guam and Palau, control was obtained about a year after the initial release of parasitoids.