Abstract
The solenopsis mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) has emerged as an aggressive pest on a wide range of host plants in many countries. Mealybug demes were found on young tender leaves, twigs, inflorescence panicles and fruit peduncles of cashew Anacardium occidentale L. (Family: Anacardiaceae). Drying and curling of inflorescences, tender leaves and twigs were observed due to sucking of sap or saliva injection by nymphs and adults of mealybugs. The mealybugs were identified as Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley. The peak infestation of 20.73 mealybugs/ 5 cm twig was recorded in the months of April and May during 2012. The endoparasitoid Aenasius bambawalei Hayat (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) was also recorded from mummies of P. solenopsis. This is the first report of P. solenopsis infestation on cashew, which may emerge as a sporadic pest of A. occidentale in India.
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Maruthadurai, R., Singh, N.P. First report of invasive mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley infesting cashew from Goa, India. Phytoparasitica 43, 121–124 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-014-0421-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-014-0421-6