Meyerdirk, D.E. 1999 Pre-emptive thrust against the Pink Hibiscus Mealybug: A model for meeting invasive pest threats in the Caribbean.. Mitigating the Effects of Exotic Pests on Trade and Agriculture. Part A. The Caribbean. T-Star (Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture Research), USDA 292 pp.

Notes: [Proceedings of a workshop held at Campbell Agricultural Center, Homestead, Florida, June 16-18, 1999.] The pink hibiscus mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green), classical biological control program developed in the Caribbean serves as a model program against invasive pest species that pose an economic threat to the United States. The aggressive classical biological control cooperative effort that was implemented has significantly reduced the population density of this mealybug by 94% in St. Kitts, West Indies, 95% in St. Croix and 90% in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. A similar reduction is being observed in Puerto Rico, which has recently become infested. This preemptive thrust into the development of this technology has allowed the United States to "buy time" in developing the technology prior to its entry into the U.S. mainland, and allows the U.S. to stand ready to transfer this new technology as soon as it's needed.