Phenacoccus solenopsis: The White Menace to Global Agriculture

Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are important plant pests worldwide. About 5000 species of mealybug have been recorded from 246 families of plants throughout the world. Among these, 56 species have been reported from 15 genera of family Malvaceae, including hibiscus, cotton and many other plants of economic importance. The mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) has a wide geographical distribution with its origin in Central America followed by reports of the Caribbean and Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil and Pakistan. It has been the current topic of research for insect taxonomists and applied entomologists in India due to its invasiveness, rapid spread, morphological and biological variations and the need for establishing an effective control strategy. The species P. solenopsis described as cotton mealybug due to its large scale occurrence on cotton attained damaging population simultaneously across many fields. In spite of its occurrence the information was scanty; therefore the present study on P. solenopsis was carried out so, the information generated may be used to formulate the management strategy of the pest.