Fitness of the Papaya Mealybug, IParacoccus marginatus/I , after Transferring from ISolanum tuberosum/I to ICarica papaya/I, IIpomoea batatas/I, and IAlternanthera philoxeroides/I

The papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus, is a polyphagous invasive pest that causes severe damage in China. To improve our understanding of the expansion and prevalence of P. marginatus individuals on host plants, it is important to explore the fitness changes of insects after host plant shifting...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Insects (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2022-09, Vol.13 (9)
Main Authors: Chuai, Hui-Yu, Shi, Meng-Zhu, Li, Jian-Yu, Zheng, Li-Zhen, Fu, Jian-Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural research
Biological control
Diseases and pests
Distribution
Insect-plant relationships
Mealy bugs
Papaya
Pests
Physiological aspects
Potatoes
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Summary:The papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus, is a polyphagous invasive pest that causes severe damage in China. To improve our understanding of the expansion and prevalence of P. marginatus individuals on host plants, it is important to explore the fitness changes of insects after host plant shifting. In this study, we measured the development, fecundity, and population parameters in P. marginatus individuals over a span of three consecutive generations after being transferred from potato (Solanum tuberosum) to papaya (Carica papaya), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), and alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides). Further, the population growth rates of insects on C. papaya, I. batatas, and S. tuberosum in the F[sub.2] generation were projected. We found that P. marginatus individuals transferred to C. papaya had higher fitness. When transferred to I. batatas, the fitness of P. marginatus initially decreased in F[sub.0] and then rebounded in F[sub.1] and F[sub.2] . Paracoccus marginatus individuals could rapidly expand their populations on the above host plants. However, P. marginatus individuals were unable to complete their development on A. philoxeroides. Our findings provide new insights into the host plant fitness, prevalence, and potential pest control of P. marginatus. The papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is a polyphagous invasive pest in China. The effect that the shifting of the host plant has on the fitness of a polyphagous pest is critical to its prevalence and potential pest control. In order to assess the fitness changes of P. marginatus after transferal from potato (Solanum tuberosum (Tubiflorae: Solanaceae)) to papaya (Carica papaya (Parietales: Caricacea)), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (Tubiflorae: Convolvulaceae)), and alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides (Centrospermae: Amaranthaceae)), the life table data of three consecutive generations were collected and analyzed using the age-stage, two-sex life table method. The results showed that when P. marginatus was transferred from S. tuberosum to papaya, a higher intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) were observed. Paracoccus marginatus individuals transferred to I. batatas had the significantly lower population parameters than those on C. papaya; however, the fitness recovered for those on I. batatas after two generations. Paracoccus marginatus individuals were unable to complete development on
ISSN:2075-4450
2075-4450
DOI:10.3390/insects13090804