Studies on Mealybugs and their Natural Enemies in Ber Orchards

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Authors

  • Division of Entomology & Nematology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore - 560 089 ,IN

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18311/jbc/1993/15150

Keywords:

Mealybugs, Ber, Parasitoids, Predators.

Abstract

Ber (Zizyphus mauritiana (L.)) has been found attacked by four mealybug species viz., Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead), Planococcus citri (Risso), P. lilacinus (Ckll.) and Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) around Bangalore. A total of 11 natural enemies on N. viridis, three on P. citri and two on P. lilacinus were recorded. Attempts were also made to use the exotic natural enemies like Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Muls. and Leptomastix dactylopii How to suppress the mealybug population in ber orchards. The local parasitoids and predators appeared in large number and were mainly responsible for the suppresion of N. viridis and P. citri on ber.