Journal of Applied Entomology最新文献

{"title":"Validation of the Mitochondrial Genome of Planococcus citri and Molecular Tools for Species-Level Identification of Citrus-Associated Mealybugs in South Africa","authors":"Rachelle Bester,&nbsp;Rochelle de Bruyn,&nbsp;Casey Gill,&nbsp;Aruna Manrakhan,&nbsp;Glynnis Cook,&nbsp;Hans J. Maree","doi":"10.1111/jen.70059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70059","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Citrus production in South Africa is affected by seven mealybug (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) species, with <i>Planococcus citri</i> (Risso) being the most prevalent and the pest status of the other six species being generally minor or even negligible. Infestations can reduce fruit production and quality due to sooty mould development. Accurate species-level identification of mealybugs is valuable for effective agricultural pest management and in some cases may be of phytosanitary relevance. Traditional morphological identification is challenging. Slide mounted adult female specimens are usually required for accurate morphological identification, a process that is time consuming and requires specialist skills. Molecular diagnostics targeting mitochondrial genes, particularly the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (<i>COI</i>), have become valuable rapid tools for reliable species discrimination in most insect groups. The use of molecular techniques in combination with morphological assessments provides stronger support for accurate species identification. This study reports the first validated mitochondrial genome of <i>P. citri</i>, an important citrus pest, alongside partial mitochondrial sequences for the six other mealybug species previously reported on citrus and two other species that are not associated with citrus in South Africa. Using high-throughput and Sanger sequencing combined with manual curation, a high-confidence <i>P. citri</i> mitogenome was assembled while draft mitogenomes were generated for the other species. Two complementary molecular assays were developed and validated. These consisted of a set of multiplex PCRs and restriction enzyme digest assays that enable rapid, same-day differentiation of the nine mealybug species. The multiplex PCR assays provide sensitive and specific detection, while the restriction digest assays act as a confirmatory tool and fail-safe mechanism, allowing early identification of discrepancies. In one of the species, <i>Nipaecoccus viridis</i>, greater genetic diversity was uncovered, suggesting cryptic speciation. This study underscores the complexities of unarmoured scale insect mitogenomics, including repetitive regions, low gene conservation and scarce reference sequences while providing a robust and efficient molecular framework that enhances accurate mealybug identification.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 4","pages":"526-538"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Framework for Multidimensional Management of Invasive Alien Insect Pests in Sub-Saharan Africa","authors":"Klaus Birkhofer,&nbsp;Frank Wätzold,&nbsp;Ruben Remelgado,&nbsp;Pia Addison,&nbsp;Pascal Aigbedion-Atalor,&nbsp;Anna F. Cord,&nbsp;Sunday Ekesi,&nbsp;Reyard Mutamiswa,&nbsp;Ivan Rwomushana,&nbsp;Martin Paul Tabe-Ojong Jr,&nbsp;Casper Nyamukondiwa","doi":"10.1111/jen.70060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70060","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Invasive alien insect pests pose a significant threat to achieving sustainable food systems in sub-Saharan Africa, where reliance on synthetic pesticides has led to unsustainable practices due to high costs and health and environmental risks. This article presents a multidimensional framework for managing invasive alien insect pests in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically directed at researchers, policymakers, non-governmental organisations and other institutions responsible for invasive pest management as well as extension services for farmers. Invasive pests, such as the Oriental fruit fly and the fall armyworm, and a highly damaging native species for comparison are central to the framework. The framework considers the environmental, socio-economic, and regulatory dimensions of pest management decisions. It reviews different control strategies used against invasive alien pests, highlighting their limitations and environmental impacts. By considering farmer characteristics, institutional support, market demands, and regulatory policies, the article emphasises the need for integrated pest management approaches. The aim is to contribute to the development of sustainable, effective pest management strategies that will ensure long-term agricultural productivity and food security in sub-Saharan Africa.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 4","pages":"539-548"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feeding Preference and Foraging Behaviour of Eriopis connexa on Two Aphid Species","authors":"Anna Mara Ferreira Maciel,&nbsp;Lucas Ramos Vieira,&nbsp;Rayana Mayara Rocha Carvalho,&nbsp;Wesley Augusto Conde Godoy","doi":"10.1111/jen.70048","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jen.70048","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Aphids are phloem-feeding insects that cause both direct and indirect damage to crops, reducing agricultural productivity. Among the available pest control strategies, biological control using natural enemies is a sustainable and effective approach. The ladybird <i>Eriopis connexa</i> (Germar, 1824) is a generalist predator known for its voracity and ability to exploit aphid populations across diverse habitats. This study aimed to evaluate the foraging behaviour and prey preference of <i>E. connexa</i> when exposed to two aphid species, <i>Myzus persicae</i> (Sulzer, 1776) and <i>Aphis gossypii</i> Glover, 1877, under varying ecological contexts. We conducted three independent experiments to assess: (i) preference across developmental stages (2nd vs. 4th instars); (ii) functional response to increasing prey density; and (iii) prey choice in varying species proportions. Results indicate that <i>E. connexa</i> lacks an intrinsic preference for either aphid species. Instead, its predation behaviour is significantly influenced by prey characteristics such as instar stage and relative abundance. The predator tended to consume smaller instars and more abundant prey first, suggesting decisions based on prey profitability. These findings enhance our understanding of predator–prey dynamics and biological control strategies involving aphidophagous predators in agroecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 4","pages":"444-453"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jen.70048","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Framework for Multidimensional Management of Invasive Alien Insect Pests in Sub-Saharan Africa","authors":"Klaus Birkhofer,&nbsp;Frank Wätzold,&nbsp;Ruben Remelgado,&nbsp;Pia Addison,&nbsp;Pascal Aigbedion-Atalor,&nbsp;Anna F. Cord,&nbsp;Sunday Ekesi,&nbsp;Reyard Mutamiswa,&nbsp;Ivan Rwomushana,&nbsp;Martin Paul Tabe-Ojong Jr,&nbsp;Casper Nyamukondiwa","doi":"10.1111/jen.70060","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jen.70060","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Invasive alien insect pests pose a significant threat to achieving sustainable food systems in sub-Saharan Africa, where reliance on synthetic pesticides has led to unsustainable practices due to high costs and health and environmental risks. This article presents a multidimensional framework for managing invasive alien insect pests in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically directed at researchers, policymakers, non-governmental organisations and other institutions responsible for invasive pest management as well as extension services for farmers. Invasive pests, such as the Oriental fruit fly and the fall armyworm, and a highly damaging native species for comparison are central to the framework. The framework considers the environmental, socio-economic, and regulatory dimensions of pest management decisions. It reviews different control strategies used against invasive alien pests, highlighting their limitations and environmental impacts. By considering farmer characteristics, institutional support, market demands, and regulatory policies, the article emphasises the need for integrated pest management approaches. The aim is to contribute to the development of sustainable, effective pest management strategies that will ensure long-term agricultural productivity and food security in sub-Saharan Africa.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 4","pages":"539-548"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dose-Dependent Effect of Plant Volatiles on the Oviposition Preference of the Corn Leafhopper Dalbulus maidis","authors":"Tatiane Cristina Barbosa Cândido,&nbsp;Enggel Beatriz Silva Carmo,&nbsp;Vinícius Xavier Nogueira dos Reis,&nbsp;M. Fernanda G. V. Peñaflor","doi":"10.1111/jen.70051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70051","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) is a major annual crop cultivated worldwide. In the Americas, the corn leafhopper <i>Dalbulus maidis</i> (DeLong) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is a key pest of this crop, causing direct damage to plants through phloem feeding and indirect damage by transmitting phytopathogens. Despite extensive efforts, effective management and control of this pest remain challenging. In this study, we assessed the effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—myrcene, linalool and methyl salicylate (MeSA), which are emitted by maize either constitutively or in response to herbivory plants—and methyl jasmonate (MeJA), a compound detectable in the volatile emissions of some maize genotypes. Dual-choice assays consisted of releasing female leafhoppers into cages containing a pair of maize plants: one associated with a dispenser loaded with the tested VOC at one of the three concentrations (2, 20 or 200 ng μ L⁻¹) and the other with a dispenser containing only the solvent (paraffin oil). Myrcene at 20 ng μ L⁻¹ significantly reduced oviposition, whereas MeSA at 2 ng μ L⁻¹, myrcene at 200 ng μ L⁻¹ and linalool at 200 ng μ L⁻¹ significantly increased the number of eggs laid on maize plants. MeJA, at any concentration, had no effect on oviposition preference of <i>D. maidis</i>. These results demonstrate a dose-dependent behavioural response of <i>D. maidis</i> to specific VOCs, with myrcene acting as a repellent at moderate dose and MeSA, myrcene (high dose) and linalool functioning as attractants. Such responses underscore the potential of these synthetic compounds for integration into semiochemical-based strategies aimed at manipulating <i>D. maidis</i> oviposition, either by deterring or attracting females, depending on the dose and compound used.</p>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 4","pages":"497-505"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jen.70051","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147684263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Ecological Factors Associated With the Survival, Establishment, and Movement of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus: A Scoping Review","authors":"Keana Shahin,&nbsp;Sydney DeWinter,&nbsp;Olaf Berke,&nbsp;Ilaria Dorigatti,&nbsp;Victoria Ng,&nbsp;Katie M. Clow","doi":"10.1111/jen.70038","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jen.70038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Aedes aegypti</i> and <i>Ae. albopictus</i> are mosquito species of public health significance and collectively responsible for the transmission of several arboviruses. Ongoing climatic changes are anticipated to have impacts on their survival, establishment, and movement. A scoping review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extensions for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines to describe the current state of literature on ecological factors impacting <i>Ae. aegypti</i> and <i>Ae. albopictus</i> survival, establishment, and movement. The literature search was conducted on May 25th, 2023, and updated on October 2nd, 2024. The databases searched were CAB Direct (CABI), Web of Science, PubMed, and Agricola. Primary research articles available in English or French were eligible for inclusion. After de-duplication, 2471 articles were included in level one screening. A total of 580 articles were included in level two screening, and 359 articles were eligible for data extraction. Of the included articles, 124 examined <i>Ae. aegypti</i>, 128 examined <i>Ae. albopictus</i>, and 107 investigated both species. The ecological factors most reported were temperature (<i>n</i> = 186) and precipitation (<i>n</i> = 111). <i>Aedes aegypti</i> and <i>Ae. albopictus</i> survival, dispersal, and oviposition were found to be higher in areas with warmer temperatures and greater precipitation. The majority of articles did not report values for ecological thresholds, i.e., climate change and environmental values beyond which these mosquito populations are not present, as traits are not expressed. This knowledge gap can hinder future studies attempting to forecast the range expansion of <i>Ae. aegypti</i> and <i>Ae. albopictus</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 4","pages":"459-474"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jen.70038","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Symbiont-Driven Adaptations of Aphid to Climate Change: Towards a Context-Dependent Perspective","authors":"Jhih-Rong Liao,&nbsp;Chia-Chun Chan,&nbsp;Mei-Hwa Kuo,&nbsp;Ming-Chih Chiu","doi":"10.1111/jen.70047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70047","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The adaptability of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to climate change, which affects both ecosystems and agriculture, is strongly influenced by their symbiotic microorganisms. Recent evidence highlights pronounced geographic and strain-level variation in facultative symbionts, reflecting local adaptation and shaping aphid ecological interactions. Symbiont diversity allows redundancy and functional flexibility, enabling aphids to cope with fluctuating thermal regimes, but may also constrain adaptability if symbiont functionality is compromised. However, how these partnerships govern aphid resilience under climate change remains incompletely resolved. We synthesise evidence that symbionts act as both levers and limits of climate resilience in a context-dependent manner. Key priorities are (1) to identify climatic thresholds that determine failure and recovery of symbiont-mediated provisioning and (2) to document how strain-level variation in symbionts shapes aphid-symbiont interactions across climatic gradients, revealing patterns of resilience and vulnerability. Future research should test how symbionts coexist under climatic stress, including warming effects on symbiont diversity. It should also examine how symbionts modulate interactions with plants, natural enemies and mutualists, while accounting for trade-offs, stability and host-specific outcomes. These goals require climate-gradient field sampling, controlled laboratory experiments and multi-omics to resolve genetic and functional variation, paired with high-resolution measurements of aphid performance under ecologically realistic thermal regimes. Together, these insights define a mechanistic basis for prediction and a research programme linking laboratory evidence to climate-smart integrated pest management.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 4","pages":"454-458"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Ecological Factors Associated With the Survival, Establishment, and Movement of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus: A Scoping Review","authors":"Keana Shahin,&nbsp;Sydney DeWinter,&nbsp;Olaf Berke,&nbsp;Ilaria Dorigatti,&nbsp;Victoria Ng,&nbsp;Katie M. Clow","doi":"10.1111/jen.70038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jen.70038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Aedes aegypti</i> and <i>Ae. albopictus</i> are mosquito species of public health significance and collectively responsible for the transmission of several arboviruses. Ongoing climatic changes are anticipated to have impacts on their survival, establishment, and movement. A scoping review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extensions for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines to describe the current state of literature on ecological factors impacting <i>Ae. aegypti</i> and <i>Ae. albopictus</i> survival, establishment, and movement. The literature search was conducted on May 25th, 2023, and updated on October 2nd, 2024. The databases searched were CAB Direct (CABI), Web of Science, PubMed, and Agricola. Primary research articles available in English or French were eligible for inclusion. After de-duplication, 2471 articles were included in level one screening. A total of 580 articles were included in level two screening, and 359 articles were eligible for data extraction. Of the included articles, 124 examined <i>Ae. aegypti</i>, 128 examined <i>Ae. albopictus</i>, and 107 investigated both species. The ecological factors most reported were temperature (<i>n</i> = 186) and precipitation (<i>n</i> = 111). <i>Aedes aegypti</i> and <i>Ae. albopictus</i> survival, dispersal, and oviposition were found to be higher in areas with warmer temperatures and greater precipitation. The majority of articles did not report values for ecological thresholds, i.e., climate change and environmental values beyond which these mosquito populations are not present, as traits are not expressed. This knowledge gap can hinder future studies attempting to forecast the range expansion of <i>Ae. aegypti</i> and <i>Ae. albopictus</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 4","pages":"459-474"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jen.70038","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nocturnal Moth Pollination in Montane New Zealand: Insights From Pollen Loads and Exclusion Experiments","authors":"Logan Bramley,&nbsp;Hazel Chapman,&nbsp;Joseph Dawson,&nbsp;Marion L. Donald","doi":"10.1111/jen.70044","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jen.70044","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>While most pollinator studies have focused on diurnal taxa, nocturnal moths are increasingly recognised as important pollinators across diverse ecosystems. However, experimental studies on moth pollination in natural ecosystems, particularly montane regions, remain limited. This study examines the role of nocturnal moths as pollinators for four native montane shrub species in New Zealand using pollen load data, a pollen-transport network, and pollinator exclusion experiments. We found that many moths transport <i>Dracophyllum, Veronica brachysiphon,</i> and <i>Leptospermum scoparium</i> pollen. Pollinator exclusion experiments revealed that nocturnal pollinators significantly contribute to seed set in <i>Dracophyllum</i>, but not in <i>Leptospermum scoparium</i> or <i>Discaria toumatou</i>. This study highlights the value of combining observational pollen load data with pollinator exclusion experiments to assess the role of nocturnal moth pollinators for subalpine shrubs.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 4","pages":"437-443"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Validation of the Mitochondrial Genome of Planococcus citri and Molecular Tools for Species-Level Identification of Citrus-Associated Mealybugs in South Africa","authors":"Rachelle Bester,&nbsp;Rochelle de Bruyn,&nbsp;Casey Gill,&nbsp;Aruna Manrakhan,&nbsp;Glynnis Cook,&nbsp;Hans J. Maree","doi":"10.1111/jen.70059","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jen.70059","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Citrus production in South Africa is affected by seven mealybug (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae) species, with <i>Planococcus citri</i> (Risso) being the most prevalent and the pest status of the other six species being generally minor or even negligible. Infestations can reduce fruit production and quality due to sooty mould development. Accurate species-level identification of mealybugs is valuable for effective agricultural pest management and in some cases may be of phytosanitary relevance. Traditional morphological identification is challenging. Slide mounted adult female specimens are usually required for accurate morphological identification, a process that is time consuming and requires specialist skills. Molecular diagnostics targeting mitochondrial genes, particularly the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (<i>COI</i>), have become valuable rapid tools for reliable species discrimination in most insect groups. The use of molecular techniques in combination with morphological assessments provides stronger support for accurate species identification. This study reports the first validated mitochondrial genome of <i>P. citri</i>, an important citrus pest, alongside partial mitochondrial sequences for the six other mealybug species previously reported on citrus and two other species that are not associated with citrus in South Africa. Using high-throughput and Sanger sequencing combined with manual curation, a high-confidence <i>P. citri</i> mitogenome was assembled while draft mitogenomes were generated for the other species. Two complementary molecular assays were developed and validated. These consisted of a set of multiplex PCRs and restriction enzyme digest assays that enable rapid, same-day differentiation of the nine mealybug species. The multiplex PCR assays provide sensitive and specific detection, while the restriction digest assays act as a confirmatory tool and fail-safe mechanism, allowing early identification of discrepancies. In one of the species, <i>Nipaecoccus viridis</i>, greater genetic diversity was uncovered, suggesting cryptic speciation. This study underscores the complexities of unarmoured scale insect mitogenomics, including repetitive regions, low gene conservation and scarce reference sequences while providing a robust and efficient molecular framework that enhances accurate mealybug identification.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":14987,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Applied Entomology","volume":"150 4","pages":"526-538"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147683474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}