Effect of cardinal directions and weather factors on population dynamics of mango mealybug,drosicha mangiferae (green) (margarodidae: Homoptera) on chaunsa cultivar of mango

Infestations of the mango mealybug drosicha mangiferae (green) [homoptera: margarodidae],were affected by weather factors and the position of the infestation with respect to cardinal direction on the branch of the host plant,mangifera indica var. 'chaunsa'. abundance of the scales according to position on the tree with respect to cardinal direction indicated that lower abundance occurred on the leaves and inflorescence on the north side of the tree. multiple linear regression models relating seasonal abundance of the scales to maximum,minimum daily ambient temperatures and relative humidity explained 24.7% of the variation in the sampling data over 2 seasons. abundance on the branches was similar in all sides of the tree. abundance of the scales was correlated to weather factors viz.,maximum temperature,minimum temperature,% relative humidity,and rainfall.© 2013 zoological society of pakistan.