Biology and morphometrics of cocoa mealy bug, Planococcus lilacinus (Cockerell)

Abstract

Investigation on the biology of Cocoa mealy bug, Planococcus lilacinus was carried out at College of Agriculture, Navile, UAHS, Shivamogga during 2016-17 and study revealed that the fecundity of mealy bugs ranged from 130 to 288 eggs per female with mean±SD of 216.5±47.17. Female mealy bugs had only three instars, while the males had four instars. Total nymphal duration ranged from 16 to 24 days with mean±SD of 20.17±3.52. The total life cycle of the female mealy bug, P. lilacinus ranged from 27 to 41 days and that of males ranged from 20 to 32 days with mean±SD of 33.83-5.54 and 26.22±5.79, respectively.