Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology

The papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is an economically important invasive pest with a broad host range. Biological control, particularly through the encyrtid parasitoid Acerophagus papayae, has considerable potential for suppressing populations of this pest. The present investigation evaluated the life-table and age-specific fecundity parameters of A. papayae developing on P. marginatus during 2020–21 and 2021–22. Cohorts were followed from emergence until death, and age-specific survival and fecundity data were used to estimate major population and reproductive parameters. During 2020–21, oviposition commenced on the sixth day and continued up to the twelfth day, while the last female survived up to day 14. The gross reproductive rate (GRR) and net reproductive rate (R₀) were 53.00 and 19.56, respectively. Approximate generation time (T_c), corrected generation time (T), innate capacity for increase (r_c), intrinsic rate of natural increase (r_m), finite rate of increase (λ) and doubling time (DT) were 6.946 days, 6.947 days, 0.4280, 1.122, 1.534 and 1.619 days, respectively. During 2021–22, oviposition occurred from the fifth to the tenth day, with females surviving up to day 14. GRR and R₀ increased to 68.50 and 28.37, respectively, while T_c and T declined to 6.353 and 6.354 days. The corresponding r_c, r_m and λ were 0.5265, 1.188 and 1.692, respectively, with a reduced doubling time of 1.316 days. The positive reproductive rates, rapid generation turnover and short population-doubling period observed during both years indicate the capacity of A. papayae to increase rapidly when developing on P. marginatus. These biological attributes support its potential as an important biological control agent for the management of papaya mealybug.