Biology of pink pineapple mealybug Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) Manjushree G.*, Chellappan Mani Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, 680656, Kerala *Corresponding author Email: manjushreenayak37@gmail.com
Online published on 30 April, 2019. Abstract Biology and morphometrics of Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was studied on pineapple in the AINPAO (All India Network Project on Agricultural Ornithology) laboratory, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara. The study was conducted between November 2015 to January 2016. The life cycle was completed within 63.4± 1.5 days. First instar nymphs lasted for 10.8± 0.67 days while the second instar was for 13.7± 0.65 days; both these were similar except for slight variation in size; and third instar lasted for 15.6± 0.58 days. Adult females lived for 23.2± 0.78 days, and males were absent, with females parthenogenetic and ovoviviparous. The pre-larviposition period was 8.7± 0.78 days and larviposition period lasted for 4.5± 0.51, with number of nymphs/female being 144.5± 15.1. Top Keywords Pink pineapple mealybug, Dysmicoccus brevipes, biology, morphometry, ovoviviparous, prelarviposition, larviposition. Top |