Cotton Mealybug: Phenacoccus solenopsisi and Papaya mealybug Paracoccus marginatus
(Pseudococcidae: Hemiptera) |
Symptom of damage
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Vegetative phase exhibit symptoms of distorted, bushy shoots, crinkled and/or twisted bunchy leaves and stunted plants that dry completely in severe cases.
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Late season infestations during reproductive crop stage result in reduced plant vigour and early crop senescence.
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Honeydew secreted by the mealybug encourages development of black sooty mould which adversely affects photosynthetic activity.
Identification Characters and Biology
- Destructive stage: Nymphs and adults.
- Phenacoccus solenopsis is yellowish green in colour with short to medium sized waxy filaments with two short anal filaments and two dark strips on either side of the middle ridge of the body.
- Paracoccus marginatus is yellowish and distinctly segmented. Flattened oval body long covered with mealy wax.
Management
- Remove and destroy the infested plant parts.
- Remove the alternate weeds hosts.
- Release encyrtid parasitoids, Acerophagus papayae @ 100 per village against Paracoccus marginatus and Aenasiusbam bawaeli against Phenococcus solenopsis.
- Use botanical insecticides like neem derivatives such as neem oil 2%, NSKE 5% and Fish oil rosin soap 25 g/lit. of water.
- Spray any one of the insecticides: Flonicamid 50% WG 60 g/acre or Thiamethoxam 25% WG 80 g/acre.
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