Environmental Entomology (2008) 37, 630-635

Kaushalya G. Amarasekare, Catharine M. Mannion, Lance S. Osborne and Nancy D. Epsky (2008)
Life history of Paracoccus marginatus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on four host plant species under laboratory conditions
Environmental Entomology 37 (3), 630-635
Abstract: Life history of the mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink, on three ornamental plants [Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., Acalypha wilkesiana (Muell.-Arg.), and Plumeria rubra L.] and one weed species (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) was studied under laboratory conditions. Mealybugs were able to develop, survive, and reproduce on all four hosts; however, there were differences in the life history parameters. Adult females that developed on acalypha and parthenium emerged ~1 d earlier than those that developed on hibiscus and plumeria. Adult males had a longer developmental time on plumeria than on the other hosts. Survival of first- and second-instar nymphs and cumulative adult survival were lowest on plumeria. Longevity was not affected by hosts for males and females and averaged 2.3 ± 0.1 and 21.2 ± 0.1 d, respectively. On plumeria, 58.9 ± 1.7% of the adults were females, which was a higher female percentage than on the other hosts. No egg production occurred in virgin females. Prereproductive and reproductive periods of the females were not affected by hosts and averaged 6.3 ± 0.1 and 11.2 ± 0.1 d, respectively. Mean fecundity of 186.3 ± 1.8 eggs on plumeria was lower than on the other three plant species. Life history parameters of P. marginatus on hibiscus, acalypha, plumeria, and parthenium show its ability to develop, survive, and reproduce on a wide variety of plant species.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Kaushalya G. Amarasekare, Nancy D. Epsky, Catharine M. Mannion, Lance S. Osborne

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

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Paracoccus marginatus	Plumeria (genus)
	Paracoccus marginatus	Hibiscus (crop)
	Paracoccus marginatus	Acalypha (crop)