First Report and Distribution of the Papaya Mealybug, <i>Paracoccus marginatus</i>, in Kenya¹

The papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), a serious invasive pest affecting horticultural crops, was first reported in Kenya in 2016 at Kwale, Mombasa, and Kilifi Counties of the coastal region. A study was conducted to establish its identification, distribution and host ranges at the coastal region. This is the first report of P. marginatus distribution and crops attacked in Kenya. The papaya mealybug was found to infest papaya (Carica papaya), cassava (Manihot esculenta), chili pepper (Capsicum annuum), guava (Psidium guajava), mango (Mangifera indica), and eggplant (Solanum melongena) in this study. An average yield loss of 91% on papaya crop was reported in the affected farms. Only 7.2% of the farms surveyed were found to have management strategies in place against the papaya mealybug. Additional surveys should be conducted to determine pest migration and potential endemic or unintentionally introduced natural enemies.