Survey of Host Plants of Cotton Mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) on Cotton Crops in Middle Awash, Ethiopia

Abstract

The exotic cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley invaded Ethiopia during 2010, and caused widespread infestation across all six cotton growing regions. This New World species has emerged as a serious pest of cotton and other crops and weeds. Forty two host plants of P. solenopsis were identified during the cotton growing season. The host plants of P. solenopsis revealed 42, 31, and 30 species of plants belonging to 21, 16 and 16 families served as hosts for P. solenopsis at Werer, Melka Sedi, and Gewane and across all cotton growing areas of Middle Awash, respectively. The trend of P. solenopsis severity among host plants across growing areas was clearly different although G4 plants were the highest at all growing areas. This information can be helpful in management of this pest.