Incidence and identification of mango mealy bug, <i>Drosicha mangiferae</i> (Stebbing) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Monophlebidae) infesting Litchi in Bihar, India

Abstract Litchi ( Litchi chinensis Sonn.), a major subtropical fruit belonging to the Sapindaceae family, is grown in India. Currently, the litchi faces threats from various insect pests, notably mango mealy bug, Drosicha mangiferae (Stebbing). The present research was conducted at the Litchi farm of ICAR‐NRC on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India, from the 2nd week of April 2023 to the last week of June 2025, focusing on studying the population dynamics and seasonal incidence of mango scales on litchi. The adult insects were identified by their morphological characters and molecular identification using partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) gene sequences. Nymphs and adults of mango scale suck the sap from young shoots, inflorescences, and fruit peduncles, resulting in distorted leaves, yellowing, and premature dropping of fruits and flowers, significantly impacting fruit retention and ultimately yield. The results indicated that the incidence of the mango scales first appeared in the 2nd week of April and lasted up to fruit harvesting, with a peak population during the 1st week of May (18th SMW) and 2nd week of May (19th SMW) in 2023–2024 and 2024–2025, respectively. Further, the mango scales population was found to have a significant positive association with rainfall ( r = 0.78*), indicating its critical impact on the emergence and life cycle of mango scales. The present research findings describe the incidence, damage symptoms, identification, and seasonality of mango scales in litchi from Bihar, India, which could be utilized to predict the seasonal incidence and planning of integrated pest management tactics targeting the key phenological stages.