Seasonal incidence of cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis (Tinsley) on okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) and comparative efficacy of insecticides on the mortality

Abstract

Seasonal incidence of cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis was studied on okra Abelmoschus esculentus at weekly interval from May to September 2017. The results showed that the population of mealybug started building up from the month of May and reached its peak in 3rd and 4th week of August. The population showed negative correlation with maximum temperature and positive correlation with relative humidity. Efficacy of twelve insecticides were also tested for this pest in laboratory conditions. Among insecticides tested quinalphos was found to be the most effective and buprofezin was the least in terms of mortality of second instar nymphs of P. solenopsis. Further the details of population dynamics and the efficacy of insecticides on the mortality of cotton mealybug are discussed in the present paper.