Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter

Donovan Stanberry, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, says a portion of the funds approved in the first supplementary estimates to fight the recent outbreak of the pink hibiscus mealy bug, would go towards an education campaign aimed at containing the spread of the pest.

On December 14, a low infestation of the pest was found in the residential area of Queensbury, St. Andrew. Surveys of the community indicated that the infestation was confined to four streets in the area.

A low infestation of the bug was also found in nearby residential communities off Perkins Boulevard.

This outbreak of the mealy bug comes five months after the pest, which attacks more than 300 species of plants, was first detected in the parish of Portland.

Second outbreak

Stanberry said a second outbreak of the mealy bug proves that an educational campaign regarding the containment of the pest is again needed.

"More than likely, the outbreak occurred because somebody removed infested plants from the parish to the area," Stanberry told The Gleaner last Friday.

"That is why public education is important," he added.

Subsequent to the previous detection of the pest in Portland, a public education programme was initiated by the ministry and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority in the form of a television series.

The ministry said a shipment of the parasitoid wasps which is used to fight the pest was expected to arrive in the island from the United States on December 24.

These wasps will be released in the infested areas of Queensbury and Perkins Boulevard.

The mealy bug attacks crops, fruit trees, ornamentals, forest trees and weeds. It appears as clusters of small, soft-bodied insects in white, cotton-like masses covering buds, stems, fruit, and the entire plant, eventually leading to injury and possible death of the plant.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com