Biological, ecological characteristics, and management of mealybug species Rastrococcus chinensis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) of Indian Mulberry (Morinda officinalis How.).

Abstract

Indian mulberry (Morinda officinalis How.), locally known as ba kich, is widely planted in many mountainous provinces in Northern Vietnam for medicinal uses. The mealybug species Rastrococcus chinensis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is considered as the most dangerous insect pest forthe Indian mulberry in Vietnam. R. chinensis developed and reproduced normally at 25oC, but did not reproduce when the temperature reached 30oC. At 25oC, the life cycle was 75.19 days, the adult’s lifespan was about 81 days, the longevity was about 110 days. While at 30oC, the adult’s lifespan shortened to about 26 days with no fertility. The efficacy of azadirachtin + matrine (Golmec 9EC) with R. chinensis was 73.44% at 7 days and prolonged until 14 days after treatment.