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R.R.D.T. NIRANGA Department of Horticulture & Landscape Gardening

MEALY BUG. R.R.D.T. NIRANGA Department of Horticulture & Landscape Gardening Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation mgt Wayamba University of Sri Lanka. Scientific classification. Morphological Features. Mealy bugs are sexually dimorphic Females - are nymphal

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R.R.D.T. NIRANGA Department of Horticulture & Landscape Gardening

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  1. MEALY BUG R.R.D.T. NIRANGA Department of Horticulture & Landscape Gardening Faculty of Agriculture & Plantation mgt Wayamba University of Sri Lanka

  2. Scientific classification

  3. Morphological Features • Mealy bugs are sexually dimorphic • Females - are nymphal • - exhibit reduced morphology • - and are wingless • Males • - Are winged • - do change completely during their lives • - exhibit a radical change during their life cycle • - changing from wingless, ovoid nymphs to "wasp-like" flying adults.

  4. - Mealy bug females feed on plant sap • They attach themselves to the plant and secrete a powdery wax • layer used for protection • The males are short-lived • Ovulation • - Some species of mealy bug lay their eggs in the same waxy layer • - Other species are born directly from the female. Vine mealy bug adult female with egg mass.

  5. 60 crops that can be affected by mealy bug (Pseudococcidae family) have been identified. More than 200 species of mealy bug have been identified in Sri Lanka (Source Hayleys Agro official web site) Species include Pseudococcus viburni - Obscure mealy bug Paracoccus marginatus - Papaya Mealy bug Planococcus citri - Citrus mealy bug Maconellicoccus hirsutus- pink hibiscus mealy bug grape mealy bug

  6. Papaya Mealy bug (Paracoccus marginatus) • Serious pest of many tropical and sub tropical fruits, vegetables, • and ornamental plants • The first discovery of P. marginatus in the United States was in • Florida in 1998 • Native to Mexico and Central America • In 2008, first observed in the Western Province • It causes severe economic losses, health problems and habitat • destruction in many tropical and sub tropical plants

  7. Dispersion Anuradhapura Kegalle Polonnaruwa Gampaha Ratnapura Colombo Galle Matara

  8. Severely affected plant species

  9. Severely affected plant species cont.

  10. Damage The mealy bug injects a toxin as it feeds on leaves and fruit which results - chlorosis (yellowing) - stunting, deformation - early leaf and fruit drop - buildup of honeydew - Sooty mold growing on honeydew excreted by the mealy bugs interferes with photosynthesis - Heavy mealy bug infestations may kill plants

  11. Egg ♀ 2-3 days 4 -7 days 10-14 days 1st instar Adult ♀ 8-10 days 2-3 days Common for Both ♂ and ♀ 2nd instar 4th instar ♂ 1-2 days 3rd instar Life cycle of Papaya mealy bug

  12. Attention

  13. Safe solution for controlling • Mechanical and synthetic chemical control is not compatible • Difficult to find out local biological control agents • Need to find out more quick and safe solution

  14. Biological Control - The tiny parasitic wasps Anagyrus loecki Pseudleptomastix mexicana Acerophagus papayae - lady beetles - lacewings - provide excellent biological control of the papaya mealy bug - Acerophagus papayae was decided to introduce to Sri Lanka

  15. Government exported 50000 sample of Acerophagus papayae from USA Taxonomy • Kingdom : Animalia • Phylum : Arthropoda • Class : Insecta • Order : Hymenoptera • Family : Chalcidoidea • Genus : Acerophagus • Scientific name : Acerophagus papayae

  16. Parasitoid that feeds only on the Papaya Mealy bug • Belongs to the Bee family • Each female has an egg sac that contains 500-600 eggs • Lays only about 100 to 200 eggs in each pest, and has • the ability to infest many • Other countries noted a 99% reduction of the Papaya • Mealy bug just three months after introducing the • parasitoid.

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