Fauna of predaceous coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) associated with mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) infesting horticultural crops

Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are highly polyphagous pests that cause serious damage especially in horticultural crops that are hard to kill by chemicals because of their protective waxy coating. Hence, relying on natural enemies like insect predators is one of the safest and most effective alternative solutions to manage these species. A total of 16 species of predatory coccinellids belonging to 13 genera and five tribes under three subfamilies viz., Coccinellinae, Chilocorinae and Scymninae were found feeding on 11 mealybug species infesting different horticultural crops of Karnataka. These include Anegleis cardoni (Weise), Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius), Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant, Coccinella transversalis Fabricius, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fab.), Chilocorus nigrita (Fab.), Coelophora sp., Jauravia pallidula (Motschulsky), Harmonia octomaculata (Fab.), Hyperaspis maindroni Sicard, Nephus sp., Propylea sp., Scymnus latifolius Poorani, Scymnus coccivora Ayyar, Scymnus sp.1 and Scymnus sp.2. Scymnus coccivora was associated with six diverse mealybug species with highest species composition (29.76%). The horticultural crop ecosystems were found to have a higher per cent species composition of predaceous coccinellids, which naturally regulates mealybug populations by devouring them. Therefore, utilizing these predatory beetles as a biological tool for the management of mealybugs has great potential.