Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.

, 23(1) : (137-139) 2010

Population dynamics of mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley and it's natural enemies on Bt cotton
Recently, the mealy bug has taken upper hand among sucking pests in cotton in North India (Punjab, Haryana and Rajastan) and moderate incidence in Central (Gujarath and Maharastra) and South India. Phenacoccus solenopsis and Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) are the two species of the mealy bugs infesting cotton in India. The dominant and wide spread species is P. solenopsis. It has been noticed in isolated patches in Karnataka (Raichur and Bellary districts) as reported by Hanchinal et al. (2009). It has many alternative hosts viz., sunflower, vegetables, weeds, ornamentals etc., (Saini et al. 2009; Anon., et al., 2009). Though this invasive pest has created havoc in North and Central India couple of years back its incidence and dynamics has not been persistent. It is believed that natural control has played major role in limiting this pest to a minimal level. Hence, in order to know the dynamics of P. solenopsis and its natural enemies. The present study was taken up at Main

Table1. Population dynamics of mealybugs, predators and parasitoids on cotton (NCS-145 Bt) under irrigated ecosystem during 2008-09 Mealybugs/ 10 cm % parasitoid Months ISD Week Apical shoot Predators per plant cocoons per plant Coccinellids Chrysoperla Spiders Sep 1-7 Sep 8-14 Sep 15-21 S ep 22-28 Sep 29-5 Oct 6-12 Oct 13-19 Oct 20-26 Oct 27-2 Nov 3-9 Nov 10-16 Nov 17-23 Nov 24-30 Dec 1-7 Dec 8-14 Dec 15-21 Dec 22-28 Dec 29-4 Jan 5 -11 Jan 12-18 Jan 19-25 Jan 26 -1 Feb 2 -8 Feb 9 -15 Feb 16 -22 Feb 23 -1 Mar 2 - 8 Mar 9-15 Mar 16-22 Mar 23-29 March 30-5 Mean 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 54.03 0.00 0.00 0.50 0.52 0.61 0.65 0.72 0.84 0.86 2.16 6.24 6.58 8.24 10.64 13.21 16.58 22.42 36.52 66.28 85.34 115.42 154.62 142.16 180.42 158.44 162.24 154.50 152.26 150.65 148.64 146.64 0.02 0.04 0.02 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.02 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.02 0.08 0.02 0.00 0.12 0.14 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.08 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.03 0.00 0.04 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.12 0.13 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.02 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.16 0.04 0.02 0.08 0.04 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00 6.04 6.90 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.52 1.28 1.32 2.12 3.62 4.54 6.24 7.60 9.21 9.44 9.82 10.25 12.62 13.45 15.62 20.65 22.12 20.02 16.42 12.64 10.20 4.62 3.26

S.D. 68.43 * Mean of 20 plants

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Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 23(1) : 2010

Table 2. Correlation co-efficient between weather parameters and seasonal fluctuation of mealybugs, predators and parasitoids on cotton during 2008-09 Parameters Mealybugs Coccinellids Chrysoperla Spiders Per cent parasitoid cocoons per plant Maximum Temperature (o C) 0.775* -0.247 -0.248 -0.204 0.421* Minimum Temperature (o C) Rainfall (mm) No. of Rainy days Relative Humidity-I Relative Humidity-II * Differs significantly (P = 0.05) -0.373* -0.493* -0.555* -0.510* 0.067 -0.124 0.052 0.244 -0.104 -0.178 -0.162 0.289** 0.220 -0.065 -0.011 -0.081 0.189 0.169 -0.613* -0.538* -0.584* -0.123 -0.483*

-0.656* 0.121 **Differs significantly (P = 0.01)

Fig.1:Population of mealybug and natural enemies on Bt cotton during 2008-09. `

Agriculture Research Station, UAS, Raichur during 2008-09 cropping season. The dynamics of mealybug was recorded on NCS-145 BG-II cotton grown over an acre in unprotected conditions for plant protection. The mealybugs were recorded on 10 cm apical shoot length from September 2008 to March 2009 at weekly interval from 20 randomly selected plants. Predators and parasitoids were also recorded similarly and correlation was established between mealy bug, predators and parasitoid cocoons and emergence of parasitoids in the laboratory. Correlation was also worked out between weather parameters and natural enemies of mealybug during 2008-09 cropping period. Mealybug infestation started appearing in the month of September and gradually increased as crop growth advanced (Table 1). The Population was 0.50 /10cm apical shoot in the 38th meteorological week and progressively increased throughout the season. Population reached to 115.42/10 cm apical shoot in the third week of January and thereafter increased

suddenly to reach 180.42/10cm apical shoot in the 7 th meteorological week. Later on infestation of mealybug declined gradually and reached to 146.64/10cm apical shoot in the 14th meteorological week (Fig.1). In general predator population was low during the cropping season. Maximum population of coccinellids, chrysoperla and spiders were 0.14, 0.13 and 0.16 per plant, respectively during the season. Parasitoid cocoons ranged between 0.52 to 20.02 per cent. The activity of parasitoids started during 44th meteorological week and later on increased gradually to reach peak during 7th to 9th meteorological weeks. Highest parasitoids (20.65 %) was recorded during 7th meteorological week which coincides with the higher population of mealybug. Among five Hymenopteran and dipteran parasitoid, Aenasius bambawalei Hayat was dominant. Mealy bug population was significantly and positively correlated with maximum temperature (0.775) and negatively correlated with other

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Population dynamics of mealybug, ................ parameters. Among predators, chrysoperla significantly correlated with relative humidity-I (0.289) and others were non significant. The mealybug parasitoid cocoons were positively correlated with maximum temperature (0.421) but negatively correlated with other meteorological parameters (Table. 2). Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur-584 102, India. Dhawan et al. (2009) also reported positive correlation between mealybugs and maximum temperature and negative impact of humidity and rainfall in Punjab which agrees with the present findings.

S. G. HANCHINAL B.V. PATIL M. BHEEMANNA A. C. HOSAMANI

References Anonymous, 2009, Host range of mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley. Cotton + Pigeon pea cropping system of central India. In Proc. of Nation. Symp. on Bt-cotton:Opportunities and Prospectus,Central Institute of Cotton Research, Nagpur, November 17-19, pp.150. Dhawan, A. K., Kamaldeep, S.A. and Sarika, S., 2009, Distribution of mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley in cotton with relation to weather factors in south-Western districts of Punjab. J. Ent. Res., 33(1):59-63 Hanchinal, S.G., Patil, B.V., Bheemanna, M., Hosamani, A.C. and Sharanabasappa, 2009, Incidence of mealy bug on cotton in Tungbhadra project area In : Proc. Dr. Leslie C. Coleman Memorial Nation. Ssymp. Pl. Prot. Dec.,4 - 6, 2008, Univ. of Agric. Sci. GKVK, Bangalore. Saini, R.K., Palaram Sharma, S.S. and Rohilla, H.R., 2009, Mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley and its survival in cotton ecosystem in Haryana In : Proc. Nation. Symp. on Bt-cotton:Opportunities and Prospectus,Central Institute of Cotton Research, Nagpur, November 17-19, pp150

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