Biology of Cotton Mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis (Tinsley) on some Vegetable Crops in the Gazira State, Sudan

Abstract

The recent out-break of cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis (Tinsley) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on many crops belong to different families making a real worry for both farmers and research scientists. The objective of this study was to determine total life cycle of the cotton mealybug from the first instar to the death of adult. The study focused on the biology of P. solenopsis (Tinsley) on tomato and eggplant under laboratory conditions at the Entomology Section, Agriculture Research Corporation (ARC), Sudan during the period from January to March 2016. The results showed that the developmental period for the 1st , 2nd and 3rd instars, adult female longevity and duration of life cycle were recorded as 4.5±1.29, 6.6±2.07, 6.0±2.16, 3.2±1.31, 3.7±1.77, 2.9±1.12 and 26.9±9.72 days respectively, on tomato and 6.0±1.56, 9.5±2.87, 10.3±3.29, 3.0±0.9, 4.33±1.72, 2.66±0.85 and 35.79±11.22 days respectively, on eggplant. That means the life cycle of mealybug on eggplant was longer more than on tomato.