BULLETIN 1C40. U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 
HOST PLANTS. 
The citrophilus mealybug is of importance eonrraerciallv prin- 
cipally because of its infestation of citrus plants. The insect does 
occur, however, on a large number of other plants, principally orna- 
mentals, upward of 
30 different species 
being listed as hosts. 
On the citrus fruits 
it possibly shows its 
most rapid develop- 
ment on lemons, fol- 
low ere d by grape- 
fruit, navel oranges. 
and Valencia or- 
anges, in the order 
given. It has been 
observed to develop 
very rapidly on the 
rhubarb, potato, 
grevillea. walnut, grape, and on species of Coleus and Pittosporum. 
Fig 
-The citrophilus mealybug 
the female. 
Immature stages of 
DESCRIPTION AND LIFE HISTORY. 
The synonymy of the citrophilus mealybug was first correctly de- 
terminated by G. F. 
Ferris in August of 
1919. 6 As stated, this 
insect was first con- 
fused with the com- 
mon mealybug and 
later, by Essig. with 
Baker's mealybug. 
Clausen, in Septem- 
ber. 1915. noted cer- 
tain differences in 
him to describe it as 
characters which led 
a new species (P. cit- 
rophilus) but Ferris 
found that the Same FlG - 3 - — ■ Llie citrophilus mealybug : Mature stages of the 
. , , , female. 
insect had been de- 
scribed by Mr. E. E. Green during May. 1915. as P. gahani from 
specimens taken from Riles sanguined in London. England. Tn- 
6 Ferris, G. F. Observations ox some mealy-bugs (Hemiftera; coccidab). In 
Jour. Econ. Ent., v. 12, no. 4. p. 292-293. 1919. 
