Occurrence of papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatm Williams and Granara de Willink (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), on cotton

摘要

The papaya mealy bug, Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink, was recorded in severe form on cotton in Coimbatore in 2008-09. Infestation leads to drying of the sympodial branches and both Bt and non-Bt cotton hybrids have been observedto be infested. Spalgis epius (Westwood) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) was recorded as a predator on P. marginatus infesting cotton and other hosts like papaya, silk cotton, subabul, Ixora sp., Crotons, Gliricidia sp. and Hibiscus sp. The larvae of S. epiuswere found to be voraciously feeding on the egg masses, nymphs and adults of the mealybugs.