[2] Having originated in North America, it has spread to other parts of the world and become a major pest of cotton crops.

It continued to spread in North America and later to other parts of the world, being reported in India in 2004, Pakistan and Brazil in 2005, and China and Sri Lanka in 2008.

It is now additionally present in other countries in Asia, Europe, Canada, South America, Africa and Australasia.

[1] In India, where the mealybug has become a serious pest of cotton, the winter cherry Withania somnifera has been reported as a new reservoir host of the insect.

The adults and nymphs suck sap from the host plant, and secrete the excess fluid as honeydew.