Identification of Mealybugs and Their Predators in Different Types of Plants Across the Tirunelveli District Agro-Ecological Region of Tamil Nadu

In this research, conducted from December 2023 to May 2024 in Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, we investigated mealybug infestations and their management in Gossypium herbaceum and Musa paradisiaca ecosystems. The study documented various mealybug species, their alternate hosts and natural predators from the Coccinellidae family. We identified 38 host plants infested with mealybugs and highlighted promising predator species for potential mass rearing and biological control. These findings underscore the importance of natural biological control agents in managing economically significant plant pests in the region.