Studies on the natural enemies of oriental mealybug, Planococcus lilacinus (Ckll.) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) in India.

The oriental mealybug, Planococcus lilacinus Ckll.) was found serious on many fruits including citrus, pomegranate, ber and guava in South India. The search for its natural enemies revealed the presence of three parasitoids, viz., Tetracnemoidea indica (Ayyar), Leptomastix dactylopii (How.), Aprostocetus pupureus (Cam.); and six predators, viz., Spalgis epius Westwood, Brumus sp., Seymnus coccivora Ayyar, Triommato coccidivora (Felt), Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Muls. and Cacoxenus perspicaux (Knab.). In the course of studying their impact, the encyrtid T. indica was found in large numbers responsible for the suppression of P. lilacinus from 256.30 in April to 0.86 in July, 1991 in acid lime orchards. The lycaenid predator, S. epius was found efficient in clearing the mealybugs on guava, ber and pomegranate. Besides S. epius, the local eulophid, A. purpureus was recovered up to 18 per sample resulting in bringing down the mealybug population from 49 by mid-December, 1990 to 2.16 by the end of January, 1991 in ber orchards. Releases of either the exotic parasitoid, L. dactylopii, or Australian ladybird beetle, C. montrouzieri, did not have any impact in guava orchards. The mealybug population persisted for a longer time in guava gardens when compared with other fruit crops. It is suggested that the parasitoids from Java and Philippines may be introduced for trials against P. lilacinus in India.