Host Crops Influence on Papaya Mealybuyg Paracoccus marginatus Williams & Granara de Willink

Development period and hatching percentage of papaya mealybug Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink on different host plants like papaya, cotton, mulberry, tapioca, brinjal and hibiscus was studied. The cumulative mean development period of male mealyb ug was 24.50 days in papaya and 36.75 days in tapioca. The cumulative mean development period of female mealy bug was 21.20days in papaya and 32.20 days in tapioca. The egg hatching percentage was found to be highest in papaya viz., 88.00 per cent and followed by 84.00 per cent in cotton and recorded lowest hatching percentage in tapioca (67.33%). The preference level of mealy bug was maximum in papaya and minimum in tapioca due to the host plant induced changesin the mealybug. The development period was higher for male mealybug than female mealybug