Ground pearls (Hemiptera: Margarodidae), so called for their shiny spherical cyst stage, are important root-feeding pests of a broad range of plants predominantly belonging to the family Poaceae. In the tropical and subtropical regions of eastern Australia, ground pearl species cause significant damage on sugarcane and turf grasses and have been identified at multiple sites of pasture dieback in Queensland. The potential impact of ground pearls on pasture production in Australia and elsewhere is largely unknown. This paper reviews Australian and international literature on the biology and management of this poorly understood group of pests. Ground pearls have several features that make control difficult, including a resilient cyst which provides resistance to drought and excessive moisture, a relative impermeability to insecticides, and ease of dispersal through movement of soil. Ground pearls can also modulate the period of encystment to survive adverse environmental conditions, with some species capable of surviving for years while disassociated from a host. No insecticide effectively controls ground pearl cysts. Biological control agents have been identified for some species; however, these pathogens are relatively ineffective on subterranean ground pearl cysts. Cultural control methods such as cultivation and fallowing have helped to reduce ground pearl populations in sugarcane. In turf, practices that maintain plant health such as adequate irrigation and nutrition can mask signs of ground pearl infestation. The paucity of research conducted on the biology and impact of ground pearls represents a constraint to improving management of this pest.

地珍珠（半翅目：Margarodidae），因其有光泽的球形囊肿阶段而闻名，是主要属于禾本科（Poaceae）的多种植物的重要根系饲喂害虫。在澳大利亚东部的热带和亚热带地区，地面珍珠物种对甘蔗和草皮草造成了严重破坏，并已在昆士兰州的多个牧场荒地中发现了珍珠。在澳大利亚和其他地方，珍珠地面对牧草生产的潜在影响尚不清楚。本文回顾了澳大利亚和国际上有关这一鲜为人知的害虫群的生物学和管理方面的文献。珍珠粉具有许多难以控制的功能，包括可抵抗干旱和过多水分的弹性囊肿，对杀虫剂的相对不渗透性，并易于通过土壤运动而分散。地面珍珠还可以调节包囊的时间，以在不利的环境条件下生存，某些物种与宿主分离后能够生存数年。没有杀虫剂有效控制地面珍珠囊肿。已经确定了某些物种的生物防治剂。然而，这些病原体对地下的珍珠囊肿相对无效。耕种和休耕等文化控制方法有助于减少甘蔗中的地面珍珠种群。在草皮中，维持植物健康的做法，例如充足的灌溉和营养，可能掩盖了珍珠白粉病的迹象。关于珍珠粉的生物学和影响的研究很少，这是改善该害虫管理的一个制约因素。