A review of the Genus Phenacoccus Cockerell, 1893. On Egyption mealybug (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Pseudococcidae)

Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) are a diverse group of insects that feed on plant sap. They are the second biggest group of scale insects, with about 2,012 species documented in 273 genera worldwide. This family is the second member of the superfamily Coccoidae to be displayed in the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture's collection. The majority of species are regarded as commercial agricultural pests because they harm a wide range of plants either directly or indirectly through viral transmission and sap-sucking.The Egyptian fauna of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) It has been updated and new species belonging to the genus; Phenacoccus have been added. This study presents an illustrated key for the identification of Egyptian species within the genus Phenacoccus. A taxonomic key has been constructed for these species, synonyms, diagnosis characters, host plants, and geographical distributions for each species. Phenacoccus is a genus that currently contains eight species in Egypt These species are listed Phenacoccus gypsophilae Hall, 1927; Phenacoccus halli Ezzat, 1960 ; Phenacoccus pyramidensis Ezzat, 1962; Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, 1898; Phenacoccus solani, Ferris, 1918; Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero, 1977; Phenacoccus madeirnsis Green, 1923 and Phenacoccus parvus Morrison, 1924.