Cotton Mealy bug

Pseudococcus corymbatus is distributed throughout India especially in North India, while Ferrisia virgata is sometimes a serious pest in parts of Madhya Pradesh.

Appearance:

 Nymphs and adults are soft bodied insects covered by a mass of mealy white waxy covering over the body.

Life cycle:

Eggs overwinter on stems, soil, cracks and crevices of the stem and inside crumpled leaves. Freshly laid eggs (500-600) are orange colored but turn pinkish just prior to hatching. The crawlers disperse from the ovisac by way of walking, wind or ants. The nymphs develop into adults  in 30 days. Life cycle is completed in 45 days. There are 10-15 generations / year.

Nature of damage:

• Mealy bugs attack leaves and shoots
• Suck the sap from the leaves and shoots.

      Infestation on Leaves                     Infestation on Shoot

Damage symptoms:

• Crinkled or twisted leaves, bunched or unopened, distorted bushy shoots, white pluffy mass on buds, stems, fruit and roots.
• Presence of honeydew, black sooty mold and ants.
• Unopened flowers; which often shivel and die, small deformed fruits.
• Stunting and drying of the plants.

         Sooty mold Development                                 Dried Plant

Factors responsible for incidence:

• Peak populations occur during August to November and March to April.