Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

The study was conducted to identify different biocontrol agents associated with papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus at Pantnagar, India. A total of five natural enemies were recorded including four predators and one parasitoid out of which three important predators viz., Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant, Spalgis epius Westwood, and Gitonides sp. Were collected during the study. The grub of Chrysopa sp. was also reported to prey on P. marginatus in the laboratory. One of the parasitoids, Acerophagus papayae Noyes and Schauff was also observed from the parasitized cocoons. This survey provides a descriptive account of natural enemies of papaya mealybug, P. marginatus in Tarai region of Uttarakhand.