Scientific family: Psuedococcidae
Description
Australia has a large number of native mealybug species in the family Psuedococcidae. Female adults are around 3mm long. Female adults and nymphs are oval-shaped and covered by a white waxy coating giving them a mealy appearance. They form colonies on shoots, stems, leaves and peanut kernels, developing into white masses. Males are small aphid-like winged insects. Mealybugs pierce and suck on plant tissue. Infested plants are stunted.