Travellers bringing in vegetation are being advised to be aware of the pink hibiscus mealybug, which has wiped out vegetation in the several Caribbean Islands and Florida.

"The pink hibiscus mealybug is known to attack more than 300 plants and the severity of this problem is put into perspective when you consider that the insect that attacked the cedars and devastated Bermuda only attacked one type of plant," said Claire Jessey plant protection officer of the Department of the Environmental Protection.

Ms Jessey told the Hamilton Rotarians at the Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon that the pink hibiscus mealybug or the maconellicoccus hirsutuswas indigenous to Asia, but in the early 90's the bug was spotted in the Caribbean, California and Florida.

She said: "Bermuda is at risk from this pest as we have many of the plant hosts that this pest will feed on.

"Indeed, one of its preferred hosts is hibiscus, a plant we rely heavily on for our privacy and to improve the aesthetics of new developments. "If we were to lose some or all of our hibiscus, not to mention our oleander, cherry and match-me-if-you-can, Bermuda would look very different."

She said the Island was already home to several types of mealybugs, which are regarded as relatively benign. She said: "Occasionally an attack on croton is noticed to be particularly severe, but the Pink Mealybug is in a class all its own. "The pink mealybug feeds on the young, new growth of a plant and injects a toxic saliva that causes curling and distortion of leaves, flowers and fruit.

"The entire plant may be stunted and the shoot tips develop a bushy appearance; buds may not flower and stems may twist; fruit may also be deformed and the damage is permanent and can only be removed by pruning."

She said the Department had had its eye on the pink hibiscus mealybug in the Caribbean for a number of years.

"The pest has been making its way from island to island leaving damaged plants in its path," said Ms Jessey.

"As of June 2002, this pest is closer to Bermuda than it has ever been before and the plant protection officers are asking the public to help in the mission to keep it out of Bermuda.

"This is a pest of extreme quarantine importance."

She said if this pest were to make its way to Bermuda and establish without being controlled, the Island could suffer severe ecological damage.

"However, available research indicates that the introduction of a biological control agent will minimise the damage that this pest will do," she said.

"It is extremely unlikely that this pest will be able to be eradicated from the Island and home gardeners may be forced to use pesticides to control pockets of severe problems."

The Department are trying to ensure that all imported plant material, including fruit, vegetables and any plant parts leaves, roots etc. is declared for inspection. She advised: "Do not smuggle and plant items into Bermuda and be vigilant.

"If you suspect you have this mealybug on your property, please contact the Department of Environmental Protection, as the sooner we know, the sooner we can begin to tackle the problem."

She said the adult mealybugs are small about 3 millimetres long and pink in body colour, but covered with a white waxy secretion.

"When adults are crushed, their body fluids are also pink. Eggs are laid in egg sacs covered in white wax," she said.

"More than 600 eggs can be contained in an egg sac produced by a single female.

"Nymphs (crawlers) hatch from the eggs and disperse by walking, by wind, animals or with man. Nymphs can walk considerable distances to find suitable host plants.

"Once a suitable host is found the nymphs settle and begin feeding and they rarely move once settled."

The pest so hard to control because of the absence of its natural enemies that normally keep it under control and they flourished in the lush foliage of the Caribbean. "Feeding females produce waxy secretions that they cover themselves with their egg masses, this not only provides protection from predators, but prevents pesticides from dosing the pests," said Ms Jessey.

"The Pink Mealybug prefers to feed in the cracks and crevices of the plants and this too provides protection from sprays."