Successful management of mango mealy bug, Drosicha mangiferae by Photorhabdus luminescens, a symbiotic bacterium from entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis indica.
Sharad Mohan, Anil Sirohi, Gaur H. S.
Author Affiliation: Division of Nematology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India.
International Journal of Nematology 14 : 195-198
Abstract : Mango mealy bug, Drosicha mangiferae is a serious pest in fruit orchards. Non-availability of a suitable biological control agent and resistance to insecticides limits the management of bug infestation to cultural and mechanical methods. In vitro application of a formulation carrying Photorhabdus luminescens, symbiotic bacteria isolated from Heterorhabditis indica, IARI strain, @ 1.4×106 bacterial cells per ml gave significant control to second stage nymphs. Formulation when applied over bug infested mango twigs resulted in 92.5% mortality after 48 hrs which was significantly higher (82.3%) where application was made one hour prior to the release of bugs. Direct application of the formulation on the bugs made them more vulnerable. In both treatments the dead bugs were sticky in appearance, exhibited cuticular lysis, characteristically turned red and appeared luminescent in the dark.