Evaluation of soluble powder formulation of alum and citric acid as alternative pesticides against mealy bugs under filed conditions

Citric acid and alum were prepared as soluble powder formulations (Sp 90 %). The insecticidal activity of both formulations against the striped mealy bug, Ferrisia virgata (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on Sweet Acacia, Acacia farnesiana (L.) (Leguminosae) was evaluated under filed conditions. The obtained data indicated that, both tested compounds showed a slight activity after three days from treatment, then their activity increased gradually to give the highest effectiveness after 18 days. The reduction percentages after18 days were 93.3 and 85.9 at 125 ppm incase of citric acid and alum respectively, where as the respective LT50 values were 7.4 and 7.2 day. On other hand, there are significant differences were found between tested concentrations, exposure periods and the interaction between tested concentrations and exposure periods. According to our data citric acid and alum as soluble powder formulations exhibited highly activity and are potential candidates as new alternative pesticides for the control of mealy bug on Acacia plants.