Diversity of Predators Associated with the Mealybug Complex in Cassava Growing Districts of Tamil Nadu, India

An extensive survey was carried to study the diversity of predators associated with mealybug complex in cassava growing districts viz., Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Tiruppur and Coimbatore Tamil Nadu, India from January September, 2021. The revealed dominance Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero 1977 (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) than other species all surveyed districts. incidence P. ranged 12 90 per cent while Paracoccus marginatus Williams Granara de Willink 1992 found be between 8 54 cent. Ferrisia virgata Cockerell 1893 very low (8-16%) compared species. Association total were maximum (30.87%) followed by (6.49%) whereas 0.53 F. virgata. fourteen different Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant 1853 (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Menocheilus sexmaculatus Fabricius 1781 Anegleis cardoni Weise 1892 Hyperaspis maindroni Sicard 1929 Brumoides suturalis 1798 Scymnus spp. Chrysoperla (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), Mallada Spalgis epeus Westwood 1851 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), Geocoris Geocoridae), Cardiastethus Anthocoridae), Diadiplosis (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), Oxyopes (Araneae: Oxyopidae) Argiope Araneidae) viz.,P. manihoti, Among complex, most relative abundant H. (11.74%) C. S. (0.67%) assessed through Simpson’s Index Diversity, Shannon-Wiener, Pielou’s Evenness Margalef indices highest diversity, richness evenness Namakkal district.