Estimating Population Size and Some Demographic Parameters of Citrus Mealybug, Planococcus Citri (Risso) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on Cucurbita Moschata Duch. in Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

Planococcus citri is an important pest that is common in many parts of the world and feeds on more than 200 plant species. It attacks the leaves, shoots and fruits of the pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) plant, which is among its hosts, causing significant crop losses. In this study, development, survival and fecundity data of P.citri were obtained on the leaves of the pumpkin plant were in the climatic room which was adjusted to 28 ± 1 °C temperature, 60 ± 5% relative humidity and 16: 8 light: dark conditions. The raw data obtained were tested according to the age-stage twosex life table and the life table parameters were calculated using the Twosex MSChart package program. Accordingly, they were calculated as follows; the intrinsic rate of increase (r) = 0.0802 d-1, the finite rate of increase (λ) = 1.0836 d-1, the net reproductive rate (R0) = 29.231 eggs, and the mean generation time (T) = 42.10 days. In addition, the population size of the pest was estimated using the Timing MSChart program. According to this, when 10 P. citri eggs were taken as the initial population, it was estimated that the population that could occur at the end of 3 months would be 4 137 individuals in total. © 2021, Centenary University. All rights reserved.