ARJASR

ISSN: 2360-7874

 Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research
 

Vol. 7(7), pp. 560-568, November 2019
DOI: 10.14662/ARJASR2019.205
Copy©right 2019
Author(s) retain the copyright of this article
ISSN: 2360-7874
http://www.academicresearchjournals.org/ARJASR/Index.htm
 

Research

Biology of cotton mealy bug (Phenacoccus solenopsis (Tinsley) on cotton plants under the laboratory conditions

¹Sileshi Getahun, ¹Nurhussien Seid, ¹Zemedkun Alemu, ²Workishet Taye, ¹Sharew Abate and ³Miesso Hemba.

Ethiopia Institute of Agricultural Research, ¹Werer Agricultural Research Center, ²Melkessa Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 2003, ³Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Corresponding Author: e-mail silgeta100@gmail.com

Accepted 31 October 2019

Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is one of the invasive insect species, which appeared in Ethiopia 2012, and then widely spread all over cotton growing areas of the country within few years. The current study was done under laboratory condition to study the biology of Phenacoccus solenopsis in Ethiopia by using cotton leaves placed in Petri plates as a feed for the insect. Phenacoccus solenopsis developmental stage and reproduction were observed in detailed at mean room temperature of 26.7-30.8 and relative humidity of 45.3-57.3%. The result revealed that P. solenopsis possess three instars for females and four instars for males. Among these the third instar required longer developmental period (5.3±0.1 day) and the first instar and second instar had nearly similar developmental periods 3.7±0.1, 4.3±0.1 days respectively.  The second instar had lowest survival percentage (53.7%) than first and third instar (72.7%, 77.8%) respectively. Female P. solenopsis were differentiated from male at third instar where, male developed cocoon and wing whereas the female remained wingless and its body covered with white dusty. The female has three molting stages and the male has four. Females have fecundity range of (103 to 848) during its reproductive period. The male total life span was (13 to 20 days) shorter than female (30 to 53 days). The present study indicates that management interventions should be taken before third instar developmental period for effective management of this insect.

Keywords: Cotton mealbug, crawlers, developmental period.

How to cite this article (APA Style): Sileshi G., Nurhussien S., Zemedkun A., Workishet T., Sharew A., Miesso H (2019). Biology of cotton mealy bug (Phenacoccus solenopsis (Tinsley) on cotton plants under the laboratory conditions. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 7(7): 560-568