Suitability of different host plants for survival and development of solenopsis mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Pseudococcidae: hemiptera)
Abstract
On different host plants, 120 crawlers of mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis were released under caged condition and observations on different parameters were recorded. Survival of the pest was significantly higher on Parthenium hysterophorus (80.8%) and cotton (80%) than on Solanum melongena (35.8%). Development duration was significantly lower on cotton (19.9 days) and P. hysterophorus (20.5 days) as compared to egg plant (22.7 days). Body length, width and weight of the pest was maximum on cotton, being 4.66 mm, 2.70 mm and 9.28 mg, respectively.
Keywords
Phenacoccus solenopsis, host plants, development duration, survival
