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INSIGHTS INTO THE LABORATORY-BASED STUDY ON THE BIOLOGY AND HOST PREFERENCE OF PHENACOCCUS SOLENOPSIS, THE COTTON MEALYBUG

Muhammad Salman*, Muhammad Javed, Inamullah Khan, Muhammad Hamayoon Khan

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Abstract:

Cotton mealybugs (Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley) are widespread pests, causing extensive infestation across diverse plant species worldwide. Our research aimed to unravel their host preferences, developmental stages, and reproductive behaviors on different host plants. Through no-choice and free-choice tests, assessing host preferences, and a detailed examination of instar stage durations, adult stage durations, and total crawler production per female across distinct hosts, we gained valuable insights. Employing a completely randomized design with three replications, our investigation unveiled okra as the preferred host, drawing the highest number of mealybug crawlers (126.3). Subsequently, bottle gourd (35.2), potato (17.7), and apple gourd (12.8) followed in descending order of attractiveness in the free-choice test. Similarly, the no-choice test confirmed okra's dominance as the preferred host over different exposure times. Examining instar stage durations, okra displayed longer durations for the third instar stage (10.12 to 12.67 days). Furthermore, okra exhibited the highest reproductive output, producing the most crawlers per female (195.4), highlighting its suitability for mealybug reproduction. In contrast, bottle gourd demonstrated the lowest reproductive output among the hosts (48.04). These results emphasize host-specific variations in cotton mealybug behavior and reproductive success, with okra emerging as the most attractive and conducive host, while other hosts exhibited varying degrees of suitability.

Key Words: Host preference assays, Okra susceptibility, Crawler production.