Skip to main content

Write a PREreview

Assessing Dispenser-Based Control on Mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Populations in Virginia Vineyards

Posted
Server
Preprints.org
DOI
10.20944/preprints202502.1678.v3

Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are one of the prevalent pests infesting wine grapes in the eastern United States. Their close association with ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) provides them with protection against natural enemies. The study examines mealybug species identification, dominant ant genera present in vineyards, and the impact of sugar dispensers on ant and mealybug populations, as well as fruit cluster infestations. Field trials were conducted in two commercial vineyards in Virginia, USA, both with a history of mealybug infestations. Sampling plots with or without sugar dispensers were compared to assess differences in mealybug and ant population densities and fruit cluster infestation levels. Two mealybug species, Pseudococcus maritimus (Ehrhorn) and Ferrisia gilli Gullan were recorded from both sites. Some dominant ant genera, including Tetramorium Mayr, Lasius Fabricius, Solenopsis molesta (Say), Crematogaster Lund, and Pheidole Westwood were found in close association with mealybugs. Ant populations remained consistently low in the untreated plots throughout the sampling season. While sugar dispensers containing insecticide initially attracted a higher number of ants, the population subsequently declined. Fruit cluster infestation was also highest in the untreated plots lacking sugar dispensers.

You can write a PREreview of Assessing Dispenser-Based Control on Mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Populations in Virginia Vineyards. A PREreview is a review of a preprint and can vary from a few sentences to a lengthy report, similar to a journal-organized peer-review report.

Before you start

We will ask you to log in with your ORCID iD. If you don’t have an iD, you can create one.

What is an ORCID iD?

An ORCID iD is a unique identifier that distinguishes you from everyone with the same or similar name.

Start now