Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-30.
The effect of temperature on the developmental duration of Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) was quantified by deriving a regression equation for egg stage and total life cycle. The duration of life cycle was shorter during summer and longer during winter. The females had three and males had four nymphal instars. The fecundity was 317 eggs per female on an average. Grapevine was recorded as the new host plant of the mealybug, M. hirsutus besides the other hosts, viz. Kenaf (mesta) and custard apple in Andhra Pradesh, India. The peak activity period of the mealybug on grapes was found to be during December—March.
