Zhou, A., Bi, J.L., Xu, J.X., & Wang, M.Q. 2015 Effects of the invasive plant Eupatorium adenophorum on the exotic mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and their natural enemies. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 17:389-399

Keywords:

distribution

ecology

host

natural enemies

Notes: Compared with cultivated plants, the predator, Menochilus sexmaculata., experienced lower predatory performance and fecundity on the invasive plant, Eupatorium. adenophorum. Phenacoccus solenopsis also exhibited a lower percentage of parasitism on E. adenophorum. Both predator and parasitoids avoided colonizing the mealybug infested and uninfested E. adenophorum plants in a significant way. These results suggest that E. adenophorum may facilitate the colony growth of by excluding enemies through their chemical cues.