Host Plant Diversity of Planococcus citri and Planococcus lilacinus in Horticultural Ecosystem and their Associated Natural Enemies

Mealybugs, Planococcus spp. (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are economically important pests which are highly polyphagous on many horticultural plants. Surveys have been conducted to study the diversity of host plants of P. citri and P. lilacinus and their natural enemies in different horticultural ecosystems of Karnataka. The citrus mealybug, P. citri was found to feed upon on 34 host plants and predated by 23 natural enemies (11 parasitoids and 12 predators). The highest number hosts were recorded in ornamental plants (13) followed by fruit crops (12). The cacao mealybug, P. lilacinus was predominant on 10 horticultural crops and were found associated with six natural enemies (three parasitoids and three predators). The highest number hosts were recorded from fruit crops (five) followed by ornamental (four). The predators viz., Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Jauravia pallidula, Spalgis epius were abundant and commonly found predating on Planococcus spp.