Effectiveness of Endoparsitoid Wasp AenasiusArizonensis (Girault) as a Successful Bio-Control of Cotton Mealy Bug, PhenacoccusSolenopsis Tinsley, in Khartoum State, Sudan.

Nawal Ahmed Mohamed,Awad Khalafalla Taha,Abubaker Haroun Mohamed Adam,Prittesh Kishorbhai

doi:10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-19-2858

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of endophagous Encyrtid parasitic wasp Aenasiusarizonensis (Girault) (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea), as a natural enemy for controlling the Mealybug, Phenacoccussolenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Where a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was adopted. Both, field survey and Laboratory experiments were conducted to study some biological characteristics of the parasitoid A. arizonensis. The results of field study revealed that, the parasitioid was available most of the year, and was highly effective on adults and last larval instar of the mealy bug, P. Solenopsis, with a total percentage of parasitism of 31.26%. While the laboratory results showed that, the duration from oviposition to adult emergence were similar for both male and female. Longevity of male was 23± 2.33 days and female 23.37±1.89 days. Mean daily fecundity in terms of number of Parasitized hosts /female / day ranged from 20 to 24. The sex ratio was 1:1.6 for the male and female in the progeny. Generally, a mass rearing of this parasitoid, with a conservation and augmentation releases could help in the application of an effective management strategy for the control of the cotton mealy bug in the field.

Highlights

The species, of Cotton Mealy bug (Phenacoccus solenopsis), has recently emerged as a serious insect pest of Cotton, and several plant species [1, 2]
Specimens were sent to Plant diagnostic Centre, Sacramento, CA, USA, where it was identified as Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, which attacks at least 26 host plant species belonging to 16 plant families
Where the infestation of P. solenopsis and its parasitized mummies were observed on three different families of weeds, which are locally known as Raba (Trianthema brasilicum), Lissan Al-tair (Amaranthus virids), Hambouk (Abutilon spp)

Summary

Introduction

The species, of Cotton Mealy bug (Phenacoccus solenopsis) , has recently emerged as a serious insect pest of Cotton, and several plant species [1, 2]. It is native to the Nearctic, originated in New Mexico, USA [3]. The chemical control of Mealy bugs is expensive, but it disturbs the habitats of natural enemies and has negative impacts on different ecosystems and human health [5, 6]. To avoid such problems, several parasitoids and predators were used to control the spread and damage that can be caused by Mealy bugs and keep the pest populations below the economic injury level [7]

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Results

Conclusion