June 2014. From Mauritius a report of a heavy infestation of what is thought to be Icerya seychellarum on roses. Mango and litchi are also said to be affected.

The photos certainly look like Icerya seychellarum; however, appearance in life is not reliable for identification. Authoritative identification requires detailed study of slide-mounted, stained specimens.

Icerya seychellarum was first recorded in Mauritius in 1943, so it is not a recent introduction there. It is highly polyphagous, feeding on may woody hosts including roses – see: http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/catalogs/monophle/Iceryaseychellarum.htm.

Interestingly, this species is one of the earliest known mealybugs in the Mascarene islands, having been described from Mauritius and Reunion as Coccus sacchari Guerin-Meneville, 1867. It is highly polyphagous. There had been attempts at biological control and the Cryptochaetid Cryptochaetum monophlebi was introduced from Madagascar in 1952-53. There are records that the parasitoid successfully controlled the mealybug. There have been severe infestations recently, not only in Mauritius but also in Rodrigues. It was suggested that the identity should be checked as well as the status of biological control status.

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