Comparative development and reproduction of Planococcus ficus and Planococcus citri (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on grapevine under field conditions

Abstract

1 Mealybugs are major pests in grape-growing areas worldwide, causing direct and indirect crop damage. The vine mealybug Planococcus ficus (Signoret) is a key pest in most of grape-producing countries, whereas the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri (Risso) is reported as being destructive in Brazilian and Spanish vineyards. 2 We examined the adaptation of the citrus mealybug to grapevine by investigating its development, reproduction and life-history parameters under Mediterranean field conditions in comparison with those of P. ficus. 3 Both mealybug species developed and reproduced successfully on grapevine. However, P. ficus showed a shorter development time, larger female body size, and higher fecundity, fertility and survival than P. citri. 4 The life-history parameters further highlighted the different growth potential of vine and citrus mealybug populations because P. ficus exhibited a net reproductive rate and an intrinsic rate of increase two-to four-fold higher than that of P. citri. Furthermore, the vine mealybug population doubled its number in approximately half time with respect to the citrus mealybug. 5 Overall, the results of the present study show a better development and reproductive performance and a higher population growth potential of P. ficus compared with P. citri, indicating a higher capacity of the vine mealybug to develop on grapevine in Mediterranean vineyards.

Multiple Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization on Grape Vegetative Growth, Berry Quality and Pest Development in Mediterranean Vineyards

“…This seems to indicate that mealybug development would be more sensitive to extreme thermal conditions when the pest feeds on substrates with low N content. Such results are in accordance with field studies conducted in the same area with unfertilized grapevines managed with different cover crops, as they showed P. ficus development times ranging from 32.9 to 39.8 days [28,40], with lower values on plants with higher N content (i.e., under legume mixture cover crop) [28]. Our findings are in line with laboratory and semi-field trials on potted grapevines, in which the VMB development decreased proportionally with increasing N fertilization levels provided to plants [27].…”

“…After 24 h, females were removed and eggs of the same age were divided into batches of 500 each under a dissecting microscope. Egg batches were stored in plastic containers (3 × 3 cm, diameter × height) in a climatic chamber at 25 • C, 60% RH and 12:12 (L:D) photoperiod for 7 days, which is the time required for egg hatching of VMB [40].…”

Effects of delayed mating on the reproductive biology of the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

“…Biological and reproductive parameters of P. ficus are affected by several factors, including the host species (Ahmed & Abd-Rabou, 2010), grapevine cultivar (Morandi Filho et al , 2008; Gonzalez Luna & La Rossa, 2016), climatic conditions (Cocco et al , 2017), nitrogen fertilization (Cocco et al , 2015) and vineyard floor management (Muscas et al , 2017). The main aim of this study was to highlight differences in the reproductive output of P. ficus females mated at increasing ages.…”

Influence of mating disruption on the reproductive biology of the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), under field conditions

“…In contrast, the fecundity and fertility of ovipositing females were determined each year on four to six of the above dates. For this purpose, females at the onset of oviposition were isolated in a plastic container (3.5 cm in diameter and height) with no food available, and were allowed to complete the oviposition under laboratory conditions . After 2 months, dead first‐instar nymphs and unhatched eggs inside each container were counted under a dissecting microscope in order to determine fecundity (i.e.…”

“…The vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is a major worldwide grape pest. [1][2][3] It causes severe damage both directly by feeding and indirectly by excreting honeydew which promotes the growth of sooty mold on the canopy and clusters. Vine mealybug infestations greatly reduce the marketability of table grapes and the quality of wine grapes.…”