Feeding Potential of Adult Menochilus sexmaculata and Coccinella septempunctata on Passionvine Mealybug, Planococcus minor Eggs and Nymphs

Abstract

P lanococcus minor (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), commonly known as passionvine mealybug, is a polyphagous pest that can potentially damage many tropical and subtropical plants (CAB, 2003;Venette and Davis, 2004). Although, this species is widely distributed in many South-Asian countries, but, it has cause serious damages in India and Taiwan (Reddy et al., 1997;Tandon and Verghese, 1987;Ho et al., 2007). Planococcus minor is a highly polyphagous pest that attack more than 250 plant species from 80 families (Bastos et al., 2007). Cit-rus, banana, cocoa corn, coffee, mango, grape, potato, and soybean are some of the important hosts of this mealybug (Ben-Dov, 1994, Venette andDavis, 2004). Besides, it also possesses highly invasive characteristics; free spread along with shipping goods particularly fruits (Venette and Davis, 2004), comparatively short life cycle (Martinez and Suris, 1998) and a high reproductive potential (Maity et al., 1998).Mealybug infestation may occur within vegetative shoots or apexes and can be extremely difficult to detect. Basically, P. minor is phloem feeder that cause stunting growth of the plants along with defoliation Abstract | Passionvine mealybug, Planococcus minor has caused severe losses to many important crops and vegetables. However, many natural enemies, particularly predators have demonstrated key influence on its population regulation. Thus, this laboratory study was conducted to evaluate feeding potential of two coccinellid predators i.e., Menochilous sexmaculata and Coccinella septempunctata on eggs and nymphs of P. minor. Results confirmed that both species of coccinellid showed feeding potential against eggs and nymphs of P. minor. Comparatively, M. sexmaculata showed higher feeding than C. septempunctata on various immature stages of M. minor. Moreover, both the species showed relatively more preference on eggs of P. minor than nymphs. Therefore, both the species can be exploited in field conditions against P. minor to keep its populations below threshold level.

Mealybug (Planococcus spp. Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) as a pest on plantation crops and its control techniques: A review

“…minor; has a feeding potential of 20 eggs and 13 nymphs per day [19] Preying on five (5) species of Mealybugs [20] Can prey 2618 eggs and 170 nymphs, as well as 39.7 P. citri adults in its entire growth [33] Attacking all instars of Mealybugs [21] 2.…”