Abstract
Parasitization has an enormous impact on host physiology, development and reproduction. The effect of parasitism by endoparasitoid, Aenasius bambawalei Hayat (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) on survival and reproduction of mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on different host stages was studied. Our data reveals that host mealybugs parasitized by the wasp at the 2nd instar stage were died during the 3rd instar stage of their life. However, those parasitized at the 3rd instar stage could reach the adult stage and were able to produce their progeny. After 6 days of parasitization, all parasitized hosts of the 2nd, 3rd and adult stages were died except the 1st instar. Results showed that parasitized host mealybugs had significantly lower reproductive potential than the unparasitized ones. Maximum parasitoid emergence was recorded in the 3rd instar host stage. This basic research regarding survival and reproduction of the parasitized host mealybugs would be very helpful in devising sustainable biological control strategies for cotton mealybug.
Highlights
Monoculture farming in Pakistan resulted in a significant crop loss every year mainly due to the attack of different insect pests as well as diseases
Maximum survival rate of the host was observed at its 1st instar stage (94%), as none of the host was parasitized till its conversion to 2nd instar stage; which reveals that it is non-preferred host stage A. bambawalei does not accept this host stage for parasitization
Mealybugs parasitized at 2nd host stage turned to mummies in 3rd instar before reaching to adult stage
Summary
Monoculture farming in Pakistan resulted in a significant crop loss every year mainly due to the attack of different insect pests as well as diseases. A complex of chewing and sucking insect pests attacks on cotton crop [1]. Mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) appeared first time in 2005, reported from District Vehari (Punajb) and Sanghar (Sindh) in Pakistan, The economic damage caused by this pest was 40% and reached up to 3.1 million bales of cotton during 2006 and 2007,which was very devastating and catastrophe [2] [3]. P. solenopsis is a polyphagous pest which damages vegetables (eggplant, pumpkin, okra and tomato), fruits, wheat, tobacco, fodders and some ornamental plants [4]-[6]. P. solenopsis feeds on leaves, branches, fruits, stems and roots by sucking sap from phloem and secretes honey dew, resulting in sooty mold growth, which hinders the process of photosynthesis [1]
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