Ramakrishna, Naika.PRADEEP KUMAR, K.2017-07-112017-07-112013-08-05Th-10678http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810024966Karnataka were surveyed for the incidence of Paracoccus marginatus Willliams and Granara de Willink and its natural enemies. Maximum infestation was observed in Bengaluru urban (4.00) followed by Mysore (3.50), Mandya {3.25) and Chamarajanagara (3.00) districts. Fourty six plant species belonging to 25 botanical families were recorded as hosts of the mealy bug. Further, three parasitoids and four predators were recorded on mealy bug in mulberry eco-system. Eight species of ants belonging to three subfamilies were found attending to P. marginatus. The study also revealed variation in the life cycle parameters of P. marginatus on three varieties of mulberry. The female mealy bug exhibited three nymphal instars, without any pupal stage, while the male had three nymphal instars and a pupal stage. On an average the fecundity was highest on V1 (699.20) followed by S3& (661.00) and Ms (643.30). The incidence of P. marginatus on mulberry was first observed during 2nd week of November,2012, later the incidence gradually increased to 20.25 mealy bug/ 10 cm shoot length in March,2013 and then on wards its population declined further. Pest population was significantly positively correlated with maximum temperature (r= 0.517**) and sunshine hours (r=0.660**), and negatively correlated with rainfall (r= -0.268), morning (r= -0.156) and afternoon (r= -0.611**) relative humidity. Among the biorational forrrrnlations sprayed on mealy bug, NSKE@ 2.5ml, 5ml, 10ml significantly decreased the survival of mealy bug population (15.32, 12.77, 7.00 No./plant) and highest reduction in pest population (67.60, 76.09, 82.49 %) at low, medium and high dosage, respectively, at 72 hours after treatment.ennullThesis