Biology of Cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley

The mean fecundity of female cotton mealybug was 362.70 with a mean egg period of 444.85 minutes. Morphologically no distinct difference in sex up to the end of third instar was noticed. Thereafter, males was identified by the presence of white silken threads secreted around the body. Female moults three times to become adult, whereas the male moults four times. The mean nymphal periods of first, second, third and fourth instar (cocoon of male) was 5.38, 4.58, 4.90 and 6.73 days, respectively. The mean pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition periods of female cotton mealybug was 19.13, 16.20 and 1.45 days, respectively. Male and female longevity were 1.50 and 36.78 days, respectively. The total life span of male was shorter than that of female with a mean of 23.08 days as against 51.63 in females. The mean % males developed from total crawlers was 5.86.