Premium
Comparative development and reproduction of P lanococcus ficus and P lanococcus citri ( H emiptera: P seudococcidae) on grapevine under field conditions
Author(s) -
Cocco Arturo,
Mura Alessandra,
Muscas Enrico,
Lentini Andrea
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
agricultural and forest entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.755
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1461-9563
pISSN - 1461-9555
DOI - 10.1111/afe.12234
Subject(s) - mealybug , ficus , biology , fecundity , vine , pest analysis , population dynamics , botany , population , horticulture , reproduction , ecology , demography , sociology
Mealybugs are major pests in grape‐growing areas worldwide, causing direct and indirect crop damage. The vine mealybug P lanococcus ficus ( S ignoret) is a key pest in most of grape‐producing countries, whereas the citrus mealybug P lanococcus citri ( R isso) is reported as being destructive in B razilian and S panish vineyards. We examined the adaptation of the citrus mealybug to grapevine by investigating its development, reproduction and life‐history parameters under M editerranean field conditions in comparison with those of P . ficus . Both mealybug species developed and reproduced successfully on grapevine. However, P . ficus showed a shorter development time, larger female body size, and higher fecundity, fertility and survival than P . citri . The life‐history parameters further highlighted the different growth potential of vine and citrus mealybug populations because P . ficus exhibited a net reproductive rate and an intrinsic rate of increase two‐ to four‐fold higher than that of P . citri . Furthermore, the vine mealybug population doubled its number in approximately half time with respect to the citrus mealybug. Overall, the results of the present study show a better development and reproductive performance and a higher population growth potential of P . ficus compared with P . citri , indicating a higher capacity of the vine mealybug to develop on grapevine in M editerranean vineyards.