Natural control of mealybug, Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead) by coccinellid predator, Nephus regularis (Sicard) on Jujube (Ber)

Abstract

Regular surveys carried out in the ber growing regions of Punjab revealed a predatory coccinellid beetle, Nephus regularis (Sicard) on spherical mealybug, Nipaecoccus viridis (Newstead) infesting ber trees. On an average, 60 and 80 per cent mealybug infestation was recorded at Ludhiana and Amritsar, respectively whereas, 8 and 12 per cent predation of N. regularis was recorded in the respective districts. While rearing mealybug in laboratory, approximately 3-4 beetles were observed to emerge from pre-adult stages present in waxy covering of mealybug colony per 10-15 cm long mealybug infested twig with leaves collected from both the locations.