Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura (2012) 34, 744-749

Ana Luiza Viana de Sousa, Brígida Souza, Lenira Viana Costa Santa-Cecília and Ernesto Prado (2012)
Especificidade alimentar: em busca de um caráter taxonômico para a diferenciação de duas espécies crípticas de cochonilhas do gênero Planococcus (Hemíptera: Pseudococcidae)
[Feeding specificity: searching a taxonomic character for the differentiation of two cryptic species of mealybugs of the genus Planococus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)]
Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura 34 (3), 744-749
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate a possible host specificity of two cryptic species of mealybugs of the genus Planococcus, reflected in its development in fruits of cocoa, coffee and citrus. The mealybugs Planococcus minor were obtained from cocoa fruits (Theobroma cacao L. cv. Comum) and citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri, from coffee seedlings (Coffea arabica cv. Mundo Novo) and citrus fruits (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck cv. Bahia). Both species were reared on pumpkins (Cucurbita maxima L.) under laboratory conditions. Coffee fruit clusters were kept into a Petri dish containing a 5 mm-agar layer sealed with PVC film. On citrus and cocoa fruits the insects were confined inside a clip-cage attached to the fruit. The tests were carried out in environmental chambers at 25 ± 1ºC, 70 ± 10% RH and 12 hours photophase using 30 replications. For mealybugs from coffee, the coffee substrate provided the greatest female nymphal period (20.8 days) and longevity (31.7 days). For females from cocoa, the lowest nymphal period (21.1 days) and longevity (25.0 days) were promoted by cocoa substrate. For those from citrus, cocoa substrate promoted the lowest nymphal period (18.4 days) and the substrate citrus promoted the greatest longevity (32.0 days). The highest mortality (50%) occurred in nymphs derived from cocoa and citrus fruits, rearing in coffee and cocoa, and the smallest were derived from coffee fruits, regardless of the substrate on which they were rearing. The results did not show a clear host specificity despite of the mealybug P. minor showed a closer association with the cocoa and eventually coffee which would explain its greater frequency in cacao. On the other hand, the citrus mealybug, P. citri, did not show any specificity for the three tested hosts.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: Portuguese)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Ernesto Prado

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Planococcus citri	Citrus (genus)	Brazil (south)
	Planococcus citri	Coffee (Coffea)	Brazil (south)
	Planococcus minor	Cacao (Theobroma cacao)	Brazil (south)