Biology and Morphometric Life Attributions of Papaya Mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on Carica papaya Under Two Distinctive Temperatures

This research was performed under laboratory conditions at (30±2oC) and (40±2oC) consecutive temperatures during, 2025 to determine the biology and measure the morphometric features of papaya mealybug on the fruits and leaves of papaya plants. The female pre-oviposition period lasts (7.35±0.82a) oviposition (9.57±1.04a) post-oviposition (6.23±0.53a) egg incubation (9.12±0.93a), 1st crawler nymph (5.34±0.48a), 2nd (4.77±0.63a) 3rd (6.86±0.64a), adult longevity (19.61±2.38a) with total lifespan (36.58±4.14a) and 1st male crawler nymph consumed (4.24±0.33a) 2nd (4.95±0.75a) 3rd (4.43±0.60a) adult longevity (12.17±0.31a) total life cycle (25.79±4.22a) at (30±20C) days. Whereas; pre-oviposition (6.12±0.56ab) oviposition (8.13±0.95ab) post-oviposition (4.94±0.49b) egg incubation (7.84±0.83ab) 1st nymph crawler (4.19±0.53a) 2nd (4.23±0.49a) 3rd (5.38±0.94ab) adult longevity (15.25±2.05b) with total life cycle of female (29.05±3.55b) and 1st nymph male crawler (3.76± 0.56a) 2nd (3.85±0.38b) 3rd (3.19±0.45ab) adult longevity (09.69±0.25ab) with total lifespan (20.49±3.41b) was recorded at (40±2oC). The egg morphometric measurement of Paracoccus marginatus in length and width (0.42±0.06a), (0.19±0.01a) 1st crawler nymph (0.45±0.08a), (0.24±0.02a) 2nd (0.75±0.09a), (0.45±0.04a) 3rd (1.32±0.21a), (0.57±0.04a) adult female (2.31±0.12a), (1.61±0.09a) mm and 1st stage nymph crawler male measured (0.38±0.04a), (0.18±0.03a) 2nd (0.68±0.05a), (0.37±0.03a) 3rd (0.96±0.12a), (0.38±0.02a) adult male (0.92±0.04a), (0.21±0.02a) mm at (30±20oC). Similarly; at (40±2oC) the length and width of the eggs was measured (0.39±0.05a), (0.15±0.02a) 1st nymph crawler stage (0.38±0.04ab), (0.20±0.01ab) 2nd (0.69±0.03a), (0.39±0.02a) 3rd (1.08±0.12ab), (0.48±0.04a) adult female (2.15±0.08a), (1.05±0.06b) and 1st stage crawler nymph (0.33±0.02ab), (0.14±0.03ab) 2nd (0.62±0.04ab), (0.34±0.03a) 3rd (0.85±0.04a), (0.33±0.01a) adult male (0.89±0.02a), (0.16±0.01ab) mm, respectively. Therefore, it is essential to conduct comprehensive studies and apply all management strategies against papaya mealybug.