Effects of the invasive plant Eupatorium adenophorum on the exotic mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and their natural enemies. (13th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Aiming; Bi, Jinqi; Xu, Jianxiong; Wang, Man-Qun
• Is Part Of: Agricultural and forest entomology. Volume 17:Number 4(2015:Nov.)
• Page Start: 389
• Page End: 399
• Publication Date: 2015-05-13
• Subjects: Insect pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Agricultural pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Forest insects -- Control -- Periodicals; 632.7
• DOI: 10.1111/afe.12119
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-9555

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="afe12119-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p id="afe12119-para-0001"> <list id="afe12119-list-0010" list-type="order"> <list-item> <p>The mealybug <italic>Phenacoccus solenopsis</italic> Tinsley and the plant <italic>Eupatorium adenophorum</italic> Spreng are highly invasive species in China. Previous studies have shown that <italic>E. adenophorum</italic> is a suitable reservoir for the development of <italic>P. solenopsis</italic> populations. The natural enemies of <italic>P. solenopsis</italic> (predator <italic>Menochilus sexmaculata</italic> and parasitoid <italic>Aenasius bambawalei</italic>) were infrequently present on <italic>E. adenophorum</italic>. We hypothesize that <italic>E. adenophorum</italic> facilitates the colony growth of <italic>P. solenopsis</italic> by excluding their enemies.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>We measured the biological parameters of <italic>P. solenopsis</italic> on <italic>E. adenophorum</italic> and two cultivated host plants (<italic>Gossypium hirsutum</italic> and <italic>Hibiscus rosa‐sinensis</italic>). The results show that, when reared by <italic>E. adenophorum</italic>, female mealybugs had a shorter developmental duration, greater fecundity, higher survival and larger populations.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Compared with cultivated plants, <italic>M. sexmaculata</italic> experienced lower predatory performance and fecundity on <italic>E. adenophorum</italic>. <italic>Phenacoccus solenopsis</italic> also exhibited a lower percentage of parasitism on <italic>E. adenophorum</italic>. Both predator and parasitoids avoided colonizing the mealybug infested and uninfested <italic>E. adenophorum</italic> plants in a significant way. These results suggest that <italic>E. adenophorum</italic> may facilitate the colony growth of <italic>P. solenopsis</italic> by excluding enemies through their chemical cues.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </abstract>