General
General
The obscure mealy bug (Pseudococcus viburni) (formerly known as Pseudococcus affinis) originates from South America, but can now be found in many parts of the world with a temperate climate. It has a very similar appearance to the citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri), but its body is covered with a thicker layer of wax, the filaments around the body are longer (20-50% of the body size) and the two tail filaments are always markedly longer than the others.
The obscure mealy bug (Pseudococcus viburni) is sometimes encountered on tomato, primarily at the foot of the stalk. In an overhead wire system of cultivation, the mealybugs are often located on the horizontal part of the stalk. These mealybugs can also cause damage in ornamental crops such as passiflora, pelargonium, and orchids. Pseudococcus viburni is difficult to control biologically.