Protection methods

Mealybugs are currently considered secondary pests whose populations are fairly well regulated naturally by several types of parasitoid or predatory auxiliaries. However, extending protection against flavescence dorée may disrupt this biological balance.

These pests therefore do not currently require a specific protection program unless the risk of viral transmission is high (see the page describing the damage and harmfulness ). Insecticidal protection can only be done on larvae, adult females being protected by their shell or wax. The optimal time is when the neonate larvae swarm to the foliage in the spring.

Parasitoid auxiliaries include the hymenoptera Encyrtidae, with the species Ericydnus sipylus (Walker, 1837) (Figure 1), Blastothrix longipennis Howard 1881 or Anagyrus pseudococci (Girault, 1915). Female parasitism is revealed outlet a posteriori through the hole of the adult parasitoid in the shell of the female or ovisac. Coccophagus scutellaris (Dalman, 1825) (Aphelinidae) is a hymenoptera that parasitizes pollen cochineals only in the 2nd larval stage by laying its eggs. The parasitic cochineals are swollen and black (Figure 2).

Several types of predators can be present in vineyards such as anthocorid bugs or Anthribidae beetles with the species Anthribus nebulosus Forster, 1770 predator more subservient to Coccidae. Other predators have been tested in flood release with lasting results: lacewings , ladybirds such as Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant 1853 (photo) and Exochomus quadripustulatus Linnaeus 1758 (photo), however a few years are needed to see a real decrease in the populations of pulvinar mealybugs .