Parasitism of the Cotton Mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley by Parasitoid Wasp Aenasius arizonensis (Girault) on Hibiscus mutabilis L. plants

doi:10.16409/j.cnki.2095-039x.2022.01.023

Abstract

Abstract: The cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, is one of major insect pests of Hibiscus mutabilis L., an important horticultural and medical plant in China. However, so far little is known about levels of its parasitism by Aenasius arizonensis (Girault) (=Aenasius bambawalei Hayat) (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae), which is a dominant natural enemy of this mealybug. Since 2017, we investigated this issue for four years in a H. mutabilis growing region in western Lanxi, Zhejiang province by collecting nymphs and adult females at intervals during June to September from H. mutabilis plants and observing for parasitism rates in the 3^rd instar nymphs and un-ovipositional females in the laboratory. Moreover, the parasitism of two years was compared between different habitats. This study was aimed to discover seasonal dynamics of parasitism and responsible factors, possible approaches of weeds in promoting parasitism, and measures to be taken to enhance biological control of the mealybug. During early seasons (June and July), the overall parasitism rate was much low, with the highest being only 38% and 32% respectively in two of the four years while few parasitized individuals occurred in the other two years. Moreover, during this season the parasitism fluctuated evidently between years. During late seasons (August and September), however, the parasitism rate was much higher, increasing since early August. The highest parasitism rates were observed in late September, 89%, 62%, 55% and 13% respectively in the four years, which differed remarkably among years. Habitat could affect parasitism level to a great extent. As compared with the mealybugs collected from H. mutabilis fields and the levees with sparse weeds, those collected from weed-dense levees and roadsides were parasitized at higher rates. In addition, the parasitism rate was higher to certain degrees at the roadsides neighboring to H. mutabilis fields as compared to those far from fields. In conclusion, the natural control of A. arizonensis against P. solenopsis on H. mutabilis varies tremendously with years and seasons, and it can be potentially enhanced in some habitats such as those abundant with weeds.

Key words: Phenacoccus solenopsis, Hibiscus mutabilis, Aenasius arizonensis, weed, habitat, biological control

CLC Number:

S435

CHEN Weiwei, LI Zicheng, WANG Yuan, NI Meihong, AO Yan, WANG Ying, JIANG Mingxing. Parasitism of the Cotton Mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley by Parasitoid Wasp Aenasius arizonensis (Girault) on Hibiscus mutabilis L. plants[J]. Chinese Journal of Biological Control, 2023, 39(1): 10-17.

References

[1] 农业农村部. 全国农业植物检疫性有害生物分布行政区名录. 2021. http://www.moa.gov.cn/govpublic/ZZYGLS/202104/t20210422_6366376.htm(2022/04/13)
[2] Fand B B, Suroshe S S. The invasive mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, a threat to tropical and subtropical agricultural and horticultural production systems-A review[J]. Crop Protection, 2015, 69:34-43.
[3] Tong H J, AO Y, Li Z H, et al. Invasion biology of the cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley:current knowledge and future directions[J]. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2019, 18(4):758-770.
[4] Hodgson C, Abbas G, Arif M J, et al. Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Sternorrhyncha:Coccoidea:Pseudococcidae), an invasive mealybug damaging cotton in Pakistan and India, with a discussion on seasonal morphological variation[J]. Zootaxa, 2008, 1913:1-35.
[5] Abbas G, Arif M J, Ashfaq M, et al. The impact of some environmental factors on the fecundity of Phenacoccus solenopisis Tinsley (Hemiptera:Pseudococcidae):A serious pest of cotton and other crops[J]. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2020, 47(4):321-325.
[6] 苏燕春. 扶桑绵粉蚧发生为害与防控对策[J]. 广西农学报, 2011, 26(6):37-39.
[7] 余海滨, 梁伟莎, 方天松, 等. 广东省扶桑绵粉蚧对园林植物为害及其天敌的调查[J]. 环境昆虫学报, 2015, 37(5):1109-1112.
[8] 孟醒, 李金峰, 黄立飞, 等. 扶桑绵粉蚧在广西的发生为害情况调查[J]. 南方农业学报, 2019, 50(5):1021-1027.
[9] 周湾, 林云彪, 许凤仙, 等. 浙江省扶桑绵粉蚧分布危害调查[J]. 昆虫知识, 2010, 47(6):1231-1235.
[10] 曹婧, 肖铁光, 秦琳, 等. 扶桑绵粉蚧寄主植物种类调查及危害研究[J]. 作物研究, 2013, 27(3):269-272.
[11] Spodek M, Ben-Dov Y, Mondaca L, et al. The cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera:Pseudococcidae) in Israel:pest status, host plants and natural enemies[J]. Phytoparasitica, 2018, 46:45-55.
[12] Torfi E T, Rasekh A, Moravvej S A, et al. Associated Chalcidoidea(Hymenoptera)with the cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera:Pseudococcidae) in the southwestern Iran[J]. Journal of Crop Protection, 2020, 9(1):19-139.
[13] Chen H Y, Li H L, Pang H, et al. Investigating the parasitoid community associated with the invasive mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis in Southern China[J]. Insects, 2021, 12(4):290.
[14] Zhang J, Huang J, Lu Y B, et al. Effects of temperature and host stage on the parasitization rate and offspring sex ratio of Aenasius bambawalei Hayat in Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley[J]. PeerJ, 2016(4):e1586.
[15] 黄玲, 刘慧, 肖铁光, 等. 扶桑绵粉蚧寄生性天敌班氏跳小蜂生物学研究[J]. 应用昆虫学报, 2011, 48(6):1734-1737.
[16] 何嫏芬, 冯东东, 李盼, 等. 班氏跳小蜂对寄主龄期选择的研究[J]. 环境昆虫学报, 2012, 34(3):328-332.
[17] 高原, 黄建, 王竹红, 等. 班氏跳小蜂对扶桑绵粉蚧的寄生效能[J]. 武夷科学, 2014, 30:146-153.
[18] Khuhro S N, Kalroo A M, Mahmood R. Present status of mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley on cotton and other plants in Sindh (Pakistan)[J]. CABI, 2011, 45:268-271.
[19] Tanwar R K, Jeyakumar P, Singh A, et al. Survey for cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley and its natural enemies[J]. Journal of Environmental Biology, 2011, 32(3):381-384.
[20] 李金峰, 邓军, 陈华燕, 等. 广西扶桑绵粉蚧寄生蜂发生情况调查[J]. 南方农业学报, 2020, 51(4):853-861.
[21] Lessando M, Gontijo. Engineering natural enemy shelters to enhance conservation biological control in field crops[J]. Biological Control, 2018, 130:155-163.
[22] Ram P, Saini R K. Biological control of solenopsis mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley on cotton:a typical example of fortuitous biological control[J]. Journal of Biological Control, 2010, 24(2):104-109.
[23] Sankar C, Marimuthu R, Saravanan P, et al. Predators and parasitoids of cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera:Pseudococcidae) in Perambalur district of Tamil Nadu[J]. Journal of Biological Control, 2011, 25(3):242-245.
[24] Chaplin-Kramer R, O'Rourke M E, Blitzer E J, et al. A meta-analysis of crop pest and natural enemy response to landscape complexity[J]. Ecology Letters, 2011, 14 (9):922-932.
[25] Tanwar R K, Bhamare V K, Ramamurthy V V, et al. Record of new parasitoids on mealy bug, Phenacoccus solenopsis[J]. Indian Journal of Entomology, 2008, 70(4):404-405.
[26] Dhawan A K, Singh K, Saini S, et al. Parasitizing potential of parasitoid (Aenasius bambawalei) on mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis) in cotton (Gossypium spp) and weed plants[J]. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2011, 81(1):97-99.
[27] Arif M I, Rafiq M, Wazir S, et al. Studies on cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis (Homoptera:Pseudococcidae), and its natural enemies in Punjab, Pakistan[J]. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 2012, 14:557-562.
[28] 张娟, 唐娅媛, 黄俊, 等. 不同营养对亚金跳小蜂寿命和适合度的影响[J]. 植物保护学报, 2018, 45(4):759-765.
[29] Kumar, Rishi, Kranthi K R, et al. Natural parasitization of Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera:Pseudococcidae) on cotton by Aenasius bambawalei Hayat (Hymenoptera:Encyrtidae)[J]. Journal of Biological Control, 2009, 23(4):457-461.
[30] Karmakar P, Shera P S. Lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides used in cotton crop on the mealybug endoparasitoid Aenasius arizonensis[J]. International Journal of Pest Management, 2020, 66(1):13-22.