ACCEPTABILITY AND SUITABILITY OF 7 PLANT-SPECIES FOR THE MEALYBUG PHENACOCCUS-PARVUS

Survival, development and fecundity of cohorts of the mealybug Phenaco ccus parvus Morrison were measured over one generation on seven plant species representing four plant families. Survival, development and fe cundity were not significantly higher on the mealybug's principal fiel d host, the weed Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae), than on other plant species including Lycopersicon esculentum Miller (tomato) and Solanum melongena L. (eggplant). The acceptability of the leaves of the seven plant species to P. parvus first instar crawlers was measured on hatch ing, after active walking and after food deprivation. Lantana camara w as the highest ranked plant species for all treatments. The number of crawlers settling on lower ranked plant species increased with the lev el of food deprivation.