Life cycle of the parasitoid Acerophagus papayae Noyes and Schauff on papaya mealybug Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink vis-a-vis local adaptation with co-evolutionary “Arms Race”

Abstract

The life cycle of the parasitoid Acerophagus papayae Noyes and Schauff was studied for first time, as it is very important for integrated pest management programme. The life cycle was studied on Papaya mealybug Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink from different host plants. The host plants induced changes in the behavior and physiology of mealybug that indirectly influenced the efficiency of parasitoids. While observing the age specific life table of the parasitoid, the net reproductive rate NRR of A. papayae was observed to be higher in papaya (559.48 females/female) and lower in tapioca (282.53 females/female). The net reproductive rate (NRR) of A. papayae was changed in accordance with NRR of P. marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink on different host plants. Intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was maximum in papaya (0.570 increase per day) and minimum in tapioca (0.342/day). The host induced life cycle of parasitoid A. papayae and the information gathered from this study will be important in the management of this host papaya mealybug P. marginatus.