EFFECT OF DIFFERENT HOST PLANTS ON THE ATTRACTIVENESS THE MEALYBUG SPECIES AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PREDATORS AT MANSOURA DISTRICT

The present study was carried out in the experimental farm belonging to the Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University to evaluate the attractiveness the mealybug species and their predators on the different host plants.
The obtained results revealed that Icerya purchasi Mask. attractive to mandarin trees as a host plant during the two years of study. Also, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green) attractive to hibiscus plants as a host plant during the two years. On the other hand, Planococcus citri (Risso) attractive to two host plants and guava trees was more favorable host plants followed by mandarin trees during the two successive years with significantly differences. Meanwhile, Icerya aegyptiaca Douglas attractive to three host plants and more favorable was the ficus trees. Icerya seychellarum Westwood recorded the highest attractiveness on guava trees followed by persimmon, ficus and mandarin during the first year and on persimmon trees followed by guava, ficus and in the last category mandarin trees during the second year of the study.
Regarding to the predatory insects, resultrs revealed that Rodolia cardinalis Mulsant recorded the highest attractiveness to ficus and guava trees, Nephus includens Kirsch found the highest attractive to guava and hibiscus plants and the lowest attractive to mandarin trees and Chrysoperla carnea (Steph). showed the highest attractive to guava trees. While Scymnus coccivora (Aiyar) recorded only on hibiscus plants associated with the pink hibiscus mealybug M. hirsutus during the two successive years of study.