Studies on life cycle of mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), on different hosts at different constant temperatures

The life cycle of a laboratory reared parthenogenic line of mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was investigated on six host plants (Lagenaria siceraria var.clavata, Solanum tuberosum L. var. Kufri Chandramukhi, Praecitrullus fistulosus (Stocks) Pangalo var. MTNH1, Cucurbita pepo var. Styriaca, Triticum aestivum L. var. Lokvan, H. rosa sinensis L.) at five constant temperatures (25, 29, 35, 38, 42 °C). The number of emerging crawlers and adults as well as weight of adults varied with host and temperature. P. fistulosus and H. rosa sinensis were suitable hosts for laboratory rearing of M. hirsutus. However, ease of maintenance of P. fistulosus to produce M. hirsutus under laboratory conditions is an additional advantage compared to using green plants such as H. rosa sinensis. Among the range of constant temperatures, 38 °C was found to be the most favourable for the development and survival of M. hirsutus. These results suggest that P. fistulosus fruits are suitable hosts for laboratory rearing and life cycle studies of M. hirsutus.

► Temperatures and hosts effect on laboratory rearing of mealybug, Maconellicoccus hirsutus. ► Number of emerging crawlers and adults as well as weight of adults varies with host and temperature. ► Host, Praecitrullus fistulosus and temperature, 38 °C are suitable for laboratory rearing and life cycle studies of M. hirsutus.