Phenological response of cotton mealybug,Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Sternorrhyncha: Pseudococcidae) to three prominent host plants

The phenological studies of cotton mealybug (phenacoccus solenopsis tinsley) (sternorrhyncha: pseudococcidae) were carried out on three host plants of economic importance [cotton (gossypium hirsutum),china rose (hibiscus rosa-sinensis) and okra (abelmoschus esculentus)] under controlled environmental conditions (40© c,65% rh and 10:14 light: dark regime). the development of all female nymphal instars was more rapid on cotton followed by china rose and okra,whereas the development of male nymphal instars was fastest on china rose followed by cotton and okra. male instars lasted for longer than those of female on all tested host plants. duration of 1 st,2 nd and 3 rd male nymphal instars on cotton was 6.88 days,4.49 days and 5.11 days and 4.33 days,3.86 days and 7.73 days for female respectively. total longevity of mated and unmated females was 41.47 and 61.33 days on china rose which was significantly longer than 37.86 days and 51.39 days on cotton and 34.55 days and 43.33 days on okra. total longevity of male was 20.83 days on okra followed by 19.66 and 18.72 days on china rose and cotton,respectively. the pre-oviposition period was 9.58 days on cotton,8.38 days on china rose and 8.75 days on okra. maximum number of 265 eggs were laid on cotton followed by 212.6 eggs and 160.2 eggs on china rose and okra,respectively. egg laying period was 12.47 days on china rose followed by 8.99 days on cotton and 6.77 days on okra. copyright 2012 zoological society of pakistan.