Biological control of mealybugs on important horticultural crops at chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

A study has been conducted at tirupati, Andhra Pradesh to identify different biological agents in horticultural crops ecosystem. the exotic parasitoid Anagyrus sp., Diversinervus sp., and Microterys sp. of family Encyrtidae were found to be highly effective in suppressing citrus mealy bug, Planococcus citri (risso.). Pink hibiscus mealybug population in major grapevine growing areas was successfully suppressed by Anagyrus dactylopii, Leptopilinia sp. and Alamella flava besides major predator, Cacoxenus perspicax, Triommata coccidivora which provides spectacular control of heavy infestation of Pink hibiscus mealybug. the encyrtid parasitoid, Tetracnemoidea indica (Ayyar), was able to check the oriental mealybug, Planococcus lilacinus (ckll.) on acid lime and pomegranate. release of the coccinellid predator, C. montrouzieri, was found very effective in controlling the coccid, Rastrococcus iceryoides (Green) on mango. Spalgis epeus was found to be the predominant predator of the papaya mealybug but releases of the exotic parasitoid, Acerophagus papayae (noyes and Schauff), provided excellent control within 3–4 months of release.