Observations on Ferrisia virgata (CKLL.) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) and its natural enemies on coffee, with new records of predators and host plants

Ferrisia virgata was found feeding on Coffea arabica, Erythrina lithosperma, Euphorbia pulcherima and Leucaena leucocephala for the first time in India. Three species of encyrtid parasitoids viz., Aenasius advena, Anagyrus qadrii and Blepyrus insularis caused 0.4 percent, 1.4 percent and 25.1 percent parasitism, respectively. Three species of coccinellids, genus near Scymnus, Scymnus sp. A and Scymnus sp. B, the syrphid Allorgrapta javana, the chamaemyiid Leucopis sp., the drosophilid ?Gitona sp., the cecidomyiid Triommata coccidivora and the chrysopid Mallada sp. were recorded as predators, of which Leucopis sp. and ?Gitona sp. are new additions. The insecticides chlorpyrifos, fenthion, methyl parathion and quinalphos were significantly toxic to the pupae of the parasitoids, whereas dimethoate and kerosene 2 percent emulsion were comparatively safer