Seasonal abundance of cotton mealybugs, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on china rose (Hibiscus rosasinensis Linn.) in two agro-ecological zones of West Bengal

A survey was conducted to study the seasonal abundance and effect of weather parameters on cotton mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis) on china rose (Hibiscus rosasinensis) in two districts of West Bengal. The population of mealybug in North 24-parganas district showed peak at 12^th and 22^nd standard week (109.04 and 117.78 per 10 cm shoot length) while at Bankura district peak was at 20^th standard week (88.11 and 98.11 mealybugs/10 cm shoot). No population was observed after 34^th standard week. P. solenopsis exhibited a significantly positive correlation with maximum temperature (r=0.635 and r=0.704 in North 24-parganas and r=0.756 and r=0.705 in Bankura districts) and significant negative correlation with rain fall (r=-0.502 and r=-0.517 in North 24-parganas and r=-0.510 and r=-0.550 in Bankura districts) during 2011 and 2012 respectively and significant negative correlation with relative humidity (r=-0.538 in north 24-parganas) during 2012.