Biology of the invasive mealybug Phenacoccus madeirensis green on cotton

During last decade many invasive mealybugs were reported as major threat to agriculture in India. Among these, the recently introduced mealybug, Phenacoccus madeirensis Green (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was observed expanding its horizons to cotton growing areas of South Karnataka and Maharashtra. Since it is necessary to study its lifecycle, so as to identify the vulnerable stage, the present study was undertaken during 2014–15 under laboratory conditions on cotton. The results revealed that its males had a slightly longer nymphal period (22.4± 1.49 days) compared to females (20.96± 1.03 days) due to additional pupal stage. Fecundity of female ranged from 215–398 eggs/female. The pre-ovipositional, ovipositional and post-ovipositional periods lasted for 9.6± 0.93, 5.56± 0.69 and 4.12± 0.81days, respectively. Adult female lived for 25.04± 1.50 days, while its adult males lived for only 2.48± 0.49 days. The total developmental period of females lasted for 48.28± 2.12 days and in males 24.88± 1.98 days.