INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT HOST PLANTS ON THE BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEYCHELLARUM MEALYBUG Icerya seychellarum (WESTWOOD).

Laboratory experiments were carried out to study the influence of different host plants on some biological characteristics of  I. seychellarum .The experiments were conducted in the Insectary of the Economic Entomology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, MansouraUniversity under fluctuated temperature degrees of  28±1˚c ; 20±1˚c and 60±5% R.H.
The total developmental stages were the shortest when I. seychellarum reared on ornamental palm and represented by 40.1 ± 0.71 and 54.9 ± 1.61 days under fluctuated temperature of 28 ± 1 ˚c and 20 ± 1˚c respectively.
The survival rates during the nymphal stage of I. seychellarum was the highest on ornamental palm followed by persimmon and the lowest on mango and guava . Based on the survival rate as an index of suitability of different host plants , the suitability in decreasing order was : on ornamental palm, persimmon, ficus, loquat, guava, mango under fluctuated temperature of 28 ± 1 ˚c and 20 ± 1˚c .
The longest oviposition period , the adult longevity and the highest fecundity of adult females were reared on ornamental palm ( 21.6 ± 0.41 , 52.7 ± 0.50 days and 63.1 ± 0.71 eggs/female )respectively ,under fluctuated temperature of 28 ± 1 ˚c . On the other hand , the longest oviposition period , the adult longevity and the highest fecundity of adult females when reared on ornamental palm ( 30.8 ± 0.91 , 71.8 ± 0.29 days and 51.7 ± 0.38 eggs/female )respectively , under fluctuated temperature of 20 ± 1˚c.