Biological Suppression of the Mealybugs Planococcus citri (Risso), Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) and Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead) on Pummelo with Cryptolaemus Montrouzieri Mulsant in India

Abstract

A field study was carried out to determine the efficacy of the Australian ladybird beetle, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant, in the suppression of three mealybug species, namely, citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso), striped mealybug, Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell), and the spherical mealybug, Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead), on pummelo (Citrus grandis Swingle). C. montrouzieri was released @ 30 larvae/plant in August 2005 in the pummelo orchard. The population of P. citri declined from 313.84/plant in August 2005 to 2.63/plant in October 2005, that of F. virgata from 248.85 to 7.57/plant and N. viridis from 165.48 to 6.85/plant in the same period. In the present investigation, a mean of 97.74%, 90.17% and 82.37% reduction in the population of P. citri, F. virgata and N. viridis, respectively, was recorded 60 days after Cryptolaemus release on pummelo.