title: Vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae ), a Key Pest in South African vineyards. A Review
abstract: Vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret), is a key pest in vineyards in the Western Cape and North-West Provinces of South Africa and more recently in the USA. This pest was first reported in the Western Cape Province in 1943. The taxonomy and identification of this species are made difficult by complex slide-mounting techniques and the lack of qualitative characteristics. Vine mealybug is polyphagous with a wide range of host plants. P. ficus causes direct crop loss due to desiccation of bun
journal: South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture