Effect of host plant on bionomic and life history parameters of Anagyrus pseudococci (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), a parasitoid of the mango mealybug Rastrococcus iceryoides (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)

Anagyrus pseudococci Girault is a solitary koinobiont endoparasitoid of several mealybug species. The effect of five host plants (Mangifera indica L., Cucurbita moschata Duchesne, Parkinsonia aculeata L., Cajanus cajan L. and Ficus benjamina Roxb.) on host acceptability for oviposition and suitability for immature development of this parasitoid in the invasive mango mealybug Rastrococcus iceryoides Green were investigated. Effect of host plant on fitness traits (parasitoid size, egg load and longevity) and life table parameters were also assessed. Although A. pseudococci accepted the mealybug regardless of the host plant, the level of acceptability varied significantly. Percentage of parasitized nymphs was higher on C. moschata, followed by P. aculeata and M. indica, while it was lowest on F. benjamina. Host suitability was also strongly affected by the host plant and largely mirrored host acceptability for all the parameters evaluated. Female wasps reared on mealybugs maintained on C. moschata and P. aculeata were bigger and more fecund, while those reared from mealybugs maintained on F. benjamina were of inferior quality with regard to all fitness parameters evaluated. A. pseudococci achieved a greater intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm), net reproductive rate (Ro) and finite rate of increase (λ) on mealybugs maintained on C. moschata and P. aculeata. In addition, the wasp had a shorter mean generation time (G) and population doubling time (Td) on mealybugs maintained on C. moschata. The reverse was true for those maintained on F. benjamina. The findings are discussed in view of improvement of laboratory mass rearing, as well as field enhancement of the parasitoid performance.

Highlights► Mealybug acceptability by Anagyrus pseudococci mirrored that of the host suitability. ► Performance of A. pseudococci varied significantly with the host plant species. ► Life table parameters were superior in parasitoids reared on mealybugs maintained on butternut squash. ► These parameters were inferior in parasitoids reared on mealybugs maintained on weeping fig.