Occurrence of Mealy Bugs in Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra

Survey was conducted to identify the dominant species of mealy bugs in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra during kharif 2008. The observations revealed that Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley was a predominant species in Yavatmal, Chandrapur and Akola districts on cotton. The same species was also observed on sesamum in Chandrapur and on brinjal in Bhandara district of Vidarbha. Infestation was up to 14.6 mealy bugs/5 cm twig on cotton, while on sesamum it was 3.8 mealy bugs/5 cm twig and 9 mealy bugs/5 cm twig on brinjal. Same species was also harboring on Bt cotton in Akola. On soybean in Chandrapur, Washim and Yavatmal district of Vidarbha region, Nipaecoccus viridis Newstead was dominant and 8.8 mealy bugs/5 cm twig was observed. Formicoccus robustus Ezzat and McConnell was recorded on mango trees in Wardha district, on which 5.2 mealy bugs/5 cm twig were observed.