Genetic Variation of Phenacoccus solenopsis (Sternorrhyncha: Pseudococcidae) in Pakistani Populations and Evaluation of Different Host Plants for Its Preference and Reproductive Potential

摘要

The cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis (Sternorrhyncha: Pseudococcidae) is an important pest of cotton and other cultivated plants in Pakistan. The parasitoid wasp Aenasius bambawalei (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) has been reported as an effective biocontrol agent against P. solenopsis. Efficient mass rearing of an insect to serve as the parasitoid host is a prerequisite for establishing augmentation facility for a parasitoid. For mass rearing of mealybugs, plant hosts which provide efficient nutrition resulting in a higher reproductive potential of the insect is highly desirable. Before evaluating different host plants, we performed a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis to check for any genetic variation in P. solenopsis populations based on their host plant or geographic distribution. No genetic variation was recorded within the collected samples of the mealybugs from the same population and even no variability was noted among the specimens collected from different populations/geographical distributions or host plants. The results obtained under laboratory conditions indicated that P. solenopsis significantly (P0.05) preferred China rose since they developed better on this plant species by producing the highest fecundity with the best survival compared with other plant species used in this study (okra, potato, brinjal and tomato). China rose proved to be the suitable host plant for the mass rearing of P. solenopsis that can be further used as parasitoid host for production system of the biological control agent A. bambawalei in Pakistan.