Bionomics of the mango-Coccid (Rastrococcus iceryoides Green; Homoptera: Coccidae).
Rawat R. R., Jakhmola S. S.
Author Affiliation: Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 40 : 140-144
Abstract : Rastrococcus iceryoides (Green) was found infesting mango, and to a lesser extent Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, for the first time in Madhya Pradesh, India, in 1966. The bionomics of the Coccid were studied in the laboratory and in the field at Jabalpur. Damage was caused by the nymphs and adult females, which sucked the sap from leaves, tender terminal shoots, inflorescences and fruits. The pest also produced honeydew, on which sooty mould developed. On heavily infested mango plants, fruit setting was reduced and young fruits were shed. Only fertilised females laid eggs, and the average numbers/female were 450-585. The preoviposition and oviposition periods were 7-8.5 and 5.7-7.3 days, respectively, and the egg stage lasted for an average of 6.6 days. Female and male nymphs moulted 3 and 4 times, respectively, and post-embryonic development lasted 20.4-31.0 days in females and 18.0-26.0 days in males. Ants (Oecophylla sp.) associated with the Coccid formed webs round infested shoots and inflorescences. Up to 6% of the third-instar female nymphs and adult females were parasitised by Tetrastichus sp., parasitism reaching a maximum in June. Overwintering took place as the adult female, and the Coccid was active from February to October, during which period 6-9 generations were completed.