Mass Rearing of Mealybug Predator, <em>Cryptolaemus montrouzieri</em> Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on two Mealybug Species, <em>Planococcus minor</em> and <em>Pseudococcus viburni</em>

• Main Authors: D. U. M. Gunawardana, K. S. Hemachandra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya 2020-01-01
• Series: Tropical Agricultural Research
• Subjects: cryptolaemus montrouzieri, biocontrol agent, mass rearing, mealybug
• Online Access: https://tar.sljol.info/articles/8342
• ISSN: 1016-1422

Mealybug predator, <em>Cryptolaemus montrouzieri </em>Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is an effective biocontrol agent against various species of mealybugs. This study was aimed to develop a protocol for mass production of <em>C.</em> <em>montrouzieri </em>with the aid of two mealybug host species; <em>Planococcus minor </em>and <em>Pseudococcus viburni</em>, under laboratory conditions. The predator was reared on <em>P.</em> <em>minor </em>and <em>P. viburni</em>, using two substrates; local pumpkin (<em>Cucurbita moschata</em>) and Malaysian pumpkin (<em>Cucurbita</em> <em>maxima</em>). The incubation period of eggs, durations of first instar larvae and pupae of <em>C. montrouzieri </em>were significantly different with two host species (p&lt;0.05). Production of <em>C. montrouzieri </em>was significantly vary (F_(1,12)= 75.32, p&lt;0.001) with the two pumpkin varieties. Production of <em>C. montrouzieri </em>was significantly higher with local pumpkins; <em>C. moschata </em>(t₍₁₄₎ = 6.11; p&lt;0.05). The results indicated that, by starting the culture with 20 females and 15 males of <em>C. montrouzieri</em>, an average of 300.3 ± 41.8 and 180.4 ± 36.5 <em>C. montrouzieri </em>adults can be produced using two pumpkin varieties: <em>C. moschata </em>and <em>C.</em> <em>maxima</em>, respectively (surface area 1000 cm²). Production of <em>C. montrouzieri </em>was significantly varied with the number of grooves appear on the surface area (1000 cm²) of the pumpkin variety, <em>C. maxima </em>with the two host <em>P. minor</em> (R²= 0.9608, F_(1,2) = 49.06, p&lt;0.05) (Y = 7.326*X + 41.02) and <em>P. viburni </em>(R²= 0.9470, F_(1,2) = 35.76, p&lt;0.05) (Y = 15.14*X – 53.22). Cost of production for a single <em>C.</em> <em>montrouzieri</em>, with the host <em>P. minor </em>reared on local pumpkin, <em>C. moschata </em>was found to be the lowest. It can be concluded that the selected mealybug species reared on <em>C.</em> <em>moschata </em>was more suitable for mass rearing the mealybug predator.