Effective control of invasive grape mealybugs (Maconellicoccus hirsutus) involves cautious release of ladybird beetles in variable temperature parameters
Keywords:
Imidacloprid, Natural Enemy, Pest, Population, YieldAbstract
Objective: The investigation on mealybug Maconellicoccus hirsutus control in grape (Vitis vinifera) has not been carried out in Jumla, Nepal. So, a study was carried out in Chandannath, Jumla in selected grape vineyards (Vitis vinifera) to understand the effectiveness of various treatments in the mealybug M. hirsutus population.
Methods: The vineyard was screened with net that were deployed to find out the efficacy of 3 treatments namely seven spotted ladybird beetles Coccinella septempunctata (10 ladybird beetles released just before the monitoring and prior surveillance of beetles carried in the field), Imidacloprid 200 SL @1.5 ml/l of water/plant), and untreated control in controlling mealybugs Maconellicoccus hirsutus. In addition, laboratory study was conducted to understand the effect of fluctuating temperature and mealybug population in presence of ladybird beetles.
Results: At 100c the numbers of mealybugs were 500, and they decreased to 450 and 395 at 12 and 140c respectively. At 28 and 300c they became 9 and 2 in numbers. The temperature was found significant to the population of mealybugs M. hirsutus, however the growth and development of ladybird beetles C. septempunctata were severely affected, while their feeding habit was directly correlated with increased temperature. The effect of ladybird beetles was highly effective in controlling the population of mealybugs in grape vineyards followed by the effect of imidacloprid and untreated control. The average yield (kg/plant) were 6, 8 and 4 in imidacloprid sprayed, ladybird beetle released and untreated control sprayed vineyard respectively. Grape cluster and yield were highest in ladybird beetle released vineyards followed by imidacloprid and untreated control.
Conclusion: Therefore, the ladybird beetle C. septempunctata could be the effective strategy in controlling invasive mealybug Maconellicoccus hirsutus in grape (Vitis vinifera) vineyards at changing temperature.
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