Biology and life cycle of cotton mealy bug, Phenacoccus solenopsis on potato sprouts

Abstract

The biology of cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley was studied on potato sprouts in the laboratory. Nymphs of first, second, third and fourth instar (only in male) recorded durations of 6.32+1.22 days, 11.64 +1.35 and 9.36+0.74 in female and male respectively, 13.36 + 1.44 days and 14.92 +0.79 days in female and male respectively and 17.48+1.20 days in the fourth instar of male. Total life cycle in females and males was found to be 27-25 days and 43-53 days respectively. Survival rates of the instars were 75.6% for the first instars, 69.1%, 73.5% for the females bugs in the second and third instars, while it was 68.7%, 65.4% and 77.8% for the males in the second, third and fourth instars.