Krishnamoorthy, A., & Mani, M. 1998 Biological control of oriental mealybug, Planococcus lilacinus (Ckll.) on chow-chow.. Advances in IPM for Horticultural Crops. Assoc. for Advancement of Pest Management in Hort. Indian Institute of Horticultural Research Bangalore, India 363 pp.

Notes: [Subtitle: Proceedings of the First National Symposium on Pest Management in Horticultural Crops: Environmental Implications and Thrusts. Conference held at Bangalore, India, 15-17 October 1997.] Chow-chow (Sechium edule) is often grown around Bangalore. The oriental mealybug, Planococcus lilacinus was observed in severe form in farmers' field during October 1994. An attempt was made to release biological control agents like Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Leptomastix dactylopii for the control of P. lilacinus on chow-chow. Lab-reared adults of C. montrouzieri and L. dactylopii were released 14 days after the application of insecticides in a chow-chow field. A total of 668 adults of C. montrouzieri and 1200 adults of L. dactylopii were released in six releases at 3 days interval. First establishment of natural enemies was observed 7 days after release in the field. Subsequently local natural enemies like Scymnus coccivora and undetermined species of chrysopid and drosophilid had also appeared following withdrawal of insecticides. The mean P. lilacinus population was reduced from 149.3 to 6.1/plant in 42 days while the mean population of natural enemies increased from 0.3 to 3.8/plant. L. dactylopii did not play any role in the control of P. lilacinus. Thus the reduction of mealybug population in chow-chow field was mainly due to the combined action of C. montrouzieri and other local natural enemies.