Bhagat, K.C. 2004 Mango mealy bug, Drosicha mangiferae (Green) (Margarodidae: Hemiptera) on Ashwagandha - a medicinal plant.. Insect Environment 10(1): 14 pp.

Notes: A preliminary study conducted during 2003 in Gurah Bramana, Kotgarhi, Rakh and Tanda, Jammu and Kashmir, India, on Ashwagandha (Wathonia somnifera [Withania somnifera]) revealed the infestation of mango mealy bug, Drosicha mangiferae on the foliage. An unusual mango mealy bug infestation was observed from February to May 2003 at all locations. However, severe infestation was noted in farmers' field in Rakh near Akhnoor. The pinkish nymphs and female adults were found sucking sap from the twigs, leaf stock and also along the midrib. The number of nymphs recorded in the second fortnight of March varied between 4 and 157 per 10 cm shoot. The highest number of nymphs recorded on the entire individual shoot was 487 and the infestation was mainly concentrated on the terminal part of the shoot. The grubs of Suminus renardi [Sumnius vestita] and two unidentified spider species were found preying upon the mealy bug nymphs infesting the host plant. Adults of Cryptochaetum [Cryptochetum] sp. also recovered from the parasitized nymphs of D. mangiferae.