NATURAL ENEMIES OF PENTALONIA NIGRONERVOSA COQUEREL, A VECTOR OF BUNCHY TOP OF BANANA AND BIOLOGY OF ITS MOST EFFECTIVE PREDATOR SCYMNUS NUBILUS MULSANT

Abstract

Natural enemies of Pentalonia nigronervosa Coquerel (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a vector of bunchy top of banana, are reported from Tamil Nadu, South India. Totally four predators including three coccinellids (Pseudaspidimerus trinotatus (Thunberg), Scymnus (Scymnus) nubilus Mulsant, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (F.)) and one hemerobiid (Micromus timidus Hagen) were recorded. Only one parasitoid, Aphelinus sp. nr. gossypii Timberlake (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was recorded. Biology of S. nubilus, the most effective predator of P. nigronervosa, was also studied in the laboratory and the results are presented.