COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY OF MEALY BUG Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) ON DIFFERENT HOST UNDER LABORATORY CONDITION

C.B. DHOBI¹*, D.M. MEHTA^2
1Department of Entomology, Bansilal Amrutlal College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, 388 110, Gujarat, India
²Biological Control Research Laboratory, Bansilal Amrutlal College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, 388 110, Gujarat, India
* Corresponding Author : chiragdhobi@gmail.com

Received : 27-07-2018     Accepted : 26-08-2018     Published : 30-08-2018
Volume : 10     Issue : 16       Pages : 7021 - 7024
Int J Agr Sci 10.16 (2018):7021-7024

Keywords : Developmental time, Mealy bug, Cotton, Tobacco, Pumpkin, Congress grass, Kanski (kangi booti)
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Author thankful to Anand Agricultural University, Anand, 388 110, Gujarat, India
Author Contribution : All author equally contributed

Investigations on comparative biology of mealy bug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley on different hosts were carried out under laboratory on cotton, tobacco, pumpkin, congress grass and Kanski (Kangi booti). The result revealed that congress grass gave the best result in term of shorter average duration of various life stages viz. incubation period (1.38 days), first instar (4.59 days), Second instar (4.79 days), third instar (5.10 days), total nymphal period (14.58 days), pupal period (3.56 days), fecundity (511.65 eggs/female) on congress grass as compared to cotton, tobacco, pumpkin and Kanski (kangi booti). Total life cycle of male and female was completed earlier when reared on congress grass. Therefore, the congress grass was found better host for faster multiplication with higher fecundity of P. solenopsis. On the basis of findings, it was concluded that mealy bug, (P. solenopsis) preferred the congress grass and gave higher fecundity and shorter life span over cotton, tobacco, kaski and pumpkin.

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