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Phenacoccus solenopsis is a polyphagous invasive mealybug that caused serious damage to crops worldwide. Phloem‐sucking hemipterans are known to carry symbiotic microbes in their saliva. However, the role of salivary bacteria of P. solenopsis in modulating plant defenses remains limited. Exploring the impact of salivary bacteria on plant defense responses will contribute to the development of new targets for efficient control of invasive mealybugs.

Salivary bacteria of the invasive mealybug P. solenopsis can suppress herbivore‐induced plant defenses and thus enhance mealybug fitness. Mealybugs treated with an antibiotic showed decreased weight gain, fecundity and survival. Untreated mealybugs suppressed jasmonic acid (JA)‐regulated defenses but activated salicylic acid (SA)‐regulated defenses in cotton plants. In contrast, antibiotic‐treated mealybugs triggered JA …