Mealybug (Drosicha sp. Monophlebidae: Hemiptera) Population Density on Different Host Plants and Their Management
Mealybug (Drosicha sp. Monophlebidae: Hemiptera) Population Density on Different Host Plants and Their Management
Muhammad Ayub1*, Syed Arif Husain Rizvi2, Ishtiaq Hussain3, Musa Ali Hashmi4, Iqbal Hussain5, Shahid Hussain1, Zakir Hussain1 and Rehmat Kabir6
ABSTRACT
Mealybug (Drosicha sp.) is an invasive insect pest of forest trees in Skardu (Gilgit-Baltistan). Currently, its management relies on the use of synthetic chemical insecticides. The massive use of these synthetic chemical insecticides results in environmental pollution. Therefore, combining integrated pest management strategies is considered a practical approach to control this pest. During 2019-20, the individual and combined effects of cultural control techniques including soil racking, egg burning, and egg removal from stem crevices, were evaluated for their effectiveness in controlling this invasive insect pest. Three types of forest trees including willow (Salix wilhelmsiana M. Bieb), poplar (Populus ciliata Wall.), and Russian olive (Elaeagnus hortensis M. Bieb) were examined for mealybug population density trends and host preference. The findings indicated that implementing both soil racking and egg removal techniques resulted in a significant reduction (92.29%) in the population of mealybugs compared to the control trees. Furthermore, a maximum number of adult mealybugs (512) were recorded in Gunny bags wrapped on willow (S. wilhelmsiana M. Bieb) tree trunks among three types of forest trees during July 2020. In conclusion, soil racking and egg removal should be carried out simultaneously during winter for eco-friendly mealybug management.
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