Journal of Economic Entomology (2008) 101, 1798-1804

Kaushalya G. Amarasekare, Juang-Horng Chong, Nancy D. Epsky and Catharine M. Mannion (2008)
Effect of temperature on the life history of the mealybug Paracoccus marginatus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)
Journal of Economic Entomology 101 (6), 1798-1804
Abstract: Effect of temperature on the life history of the mealybug Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was investigated in the laboratory. P. marginatus was able to develop and complete its life cycle at 18, 20, 25, and 30 ± 1°C. At 15, 34, and 35°C, the eggs hatched after 27.5, 5.9, and 5.5 d of incubation, respectively, but further development of the first-instar nymphs was arrested. No eggs hatched at 37°C. The developmental time for egg to adult was the longest at 18°C for both males and females. Approximately 80-90% of the eggs survived between 20 and 30°C. The highest fecundity was at 25°C with each female producing an average of 300 eggs. Adult longevity, and preoviposition and oviposition periods increased with decreasing temperature up to 25°C. The proportion of females was ~42% at 25°C and was between 70 and 80% at 18, 20, and 30°C. Adult males and females required 303.0 and 294.1 degree-days (DD), respectively, to complete their development. The estimated minimum temperature thresholds for the adult males and females were 14.5 and 13.9°C, respectively. For adult males, the estimated optimum and maximum temperature thresholds were 28.7 and 31.9°C; and for adult females, they were 28.4 and 32.1°C, respectively. The ability of P. marginatus to develop, survive, and reproduce successfully between 18 and 30°C suggests that it has the capability to develop and establish in areas within this temperature range.
(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, Juang-Horng Chong, Catharine M. Mannion

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

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Paracoccus marginatus