Author(s): Rajesh Illathur, R Philip Sridhar and JS Kennedy

Abstract: Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are important insect pests in worldwide. The study on biology revealed that there were three distinct nymphal instars in female and four nymphal instars in male mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis (Tinsley)). The duration of egg, first, second, third instar nymphs and fourth (male) pupae varied from 6.00 to 8.00, 4.00 to 5.00, 5.00 to 7.00, 3.50 to 6.00 and 2.50 to 3.00 days. The adult male longevity ranged from 2.00 to 2.50 days and the adult female longevity ranged from 17.50 to 19.00 days in P. solenopsis. In case of Paracoccus marginatus (Williams and Granara de Willink), the duration of egg, first, second, third instar nymphs and fourth (male) pupae varied from 5.00 to 6.00, 3.00 to 4.00, 4.00 to 4.50, 3.50 to 5.00 and 3.00 to 3.25 days. The adult male longevity ranged from 1.00 to 2.00 days and the adult female longevity ranged from 17.00 to 18.50 days in P. marginatus. The duration of egg, first, second, third instar nymphs and fourth (male) pupae varied from 4.00 to 5.00, 6.00 to 8.00, 5.00 to 7.00, 5.00 to 6.00 and 4.00 to 5.00 days. The adult male longevity ranged from 1.00 to 2.00 days and the adult female longevity ranged from 16.00 to 18.00 days in Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) and in case of Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell), the duration of egg, first, second, third instar nymphs and fourth (male) pupae varied from 3.80 to 5.50, 4.00 to 5.20, 5.00 to 6.00, 5.20 to 7.00 and 2.50 to 3.00 days. The adult male longevity ranged from 1.00 to 2.00 days and the adult female longevity ranged from 15.00 to 19.50 days in F. virgata.