Biology of grape mealy bug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) on pumpkin during winter and summer

Studies on the biology of the grape mealy bug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) were carried out under laboratory conditions on pumpkin during winter of 2005–06 and summer of 2006. During winter and summer season the pre-ovipositional period ranged from 6 to 7 and 4 to 6 days with an average of 6.4 ± 0.56 and 5.6 ± 0.61 days and the ovipositional period ranged from 7 to 9 and 6 to 9 days with an average of 8.7 ± 0.72 and 7.9 ± 0.69 days, respectively. The hatching percentage of eggs varied from 92.6 to 94.3 and 85.4 to 87.2 per cent with an average of 93.3 and 86.2 per cent during winter and summer, respectively. During winter the fecundity ranged from 426 to 573 with an average of 543 ± 42.16 eggs while during summer it ranged from 396 to 467 with a mean of 412 ± 29.32 eggs. The incubation period, nymphal period and the adult longevity for female was 5.5 ± 0.48, 24.8 ± 1.17 and 15.6 ± 0.81 days and for male 5.4 ± 0.53, 23.3 ± 1.07 and 4.1 ± 0.53 days and thus accounted 45.9 ± 1.92 and 32.8 ± 1.72 days for total life span of mealy bug, respectively during winter season. During summer season the incubation period was 4.7 ± 0.47 and 4.5 ± 0.51 days, the nymphal period was 23.6 ± 1.02 and 21.6 ± 0.89 days, the adult longevity was 14.2 ± 0.69 and 2.9 ± 0.62 days and the total life span was 42.5 ± 1.54 and 29.0 ± 1.23 days in case of female and male, respectively. The total life cycle of grape mealy bug was shorter during summer than winter.