Abstract:
The cotton mealybug Phenacoccus
solenopsis Tinsley (1989) is one of the invasive species
recently introduced to Sri Lanka and nowadays it is
wide spread among various parts of the country. The
life cycle of P.solenopsis was studied under the
laboratory conditions using Hibiscus rosa-sinenesis
(Shoeflower) as host plant. This paper describes the
lifecycle and discusses about the reproductive
parameters of P.solenopsis under laboratory conditions
relative to the appearance of symptoms on the host
plant and the importance of making management
interventions during the effective reproductive period
of the insect.