Antonina graminis (Maskell, 1897) Coccoidea

Antonina graminis View in CoL

(Rhodesgrass mealybug)

has a cosmopolitan distribution and is widespread in Brazil ( Williams & Schuster 1970). Hosts of A. graminis include several species in the family Cyperaceae and a wide variety of grasses ( Poaceae ), including agriculturally important species such as sorghum, and this mealybug has been noted as a pest of sugarcane and Bermuda grass ( Ben­Dov 2004a). The adult female of A. graminis has a purplish­brown, oval, sac­like body lacking appendages, and is generally covered by a white or yellowish, waxy, felt­like sac ( McKenzie 1967; Miller et al. 2005a). Despite the heavy infestation of A. graminis at the site sampled in this study, Bermuda grass continued to grow well throughout most of the lawn area except in areas, such under the eaves of the house, where the grass was apparently also stressed by other factors such as shade and lack of water.