Population dynamics of mango mealybug (Drosicha mangiferae) (Margorididae: Hemiptera) and its relation with weather parameters in subtropical climatic conditions

Abstract

Dynamics of mango mealybug in the mango growing agro-ecology of Lucknow region of Uttar Pradesh, India was studied following three seasons (2013-2015). Wider variations in the occurrence of mango mealybug were inferred from the study across 22 locations and three seasons. Weekly average mealybug incidence was tabulated against standard meteorological weeks (SMW), a range of 0.09 to 2.05, 0.13 to 1.57 and 0.11 to 2.56 mealybug per panicle was reordered in the seasons of 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively. Peak incidence of 2.05, 1.57 and 2.10 mealybug per panicle was observed at mango orchards of Ulrapur (Fixed II), Navipana (Fixed I) and Ulrapur (Fixed I) respectively. The peak incidence of mango mealybug was found during the 7th, 3rd, 10th SMW during the mango seasons of 2013 2014 and 2015 respectively. Weather parameters are analyzed was observed that a range of 50.17 to 91.6 percent relative humidity was recorded across these SMW and seasons. Scattered rainfall was recorded during the 2013 season with only 3.1 mm during the mealybug incidence period. It was inferred that 5.7 and 3.63 mm rainfall was received during 2014 and 2015 season at the time of peak incidence. The mango mealybug incidence had significantly positive relation with maximum relative humidity and rainfall across the seasons. The linear regression models had explained upto 61 per cent of variation in the mealybug population with the weather variables. Thus the study concluded wide spread dynamics of mango mealybug incidence across mango orchards of 22 locations. The seasonal changes were also depicted.