Biological development of Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell, 1895) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on sugarcane in different temperatures

Abstract

The pink sugarcane mealybug Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell, 1895) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) occurs practically in all sugarcane producing regions Saccharum spp. (Poaceae) causing damage. Little information is available about insect’s biology under Brazilian conditions. In this work, biological development of pink sugarcane mealybug was studied at temperatures of 23 °C ± 2 °C and 28 °C ± 2 °C without photophase and relative humidity of 80%. Number and viability of eggs, incubation time, duration of the last oviposition, duration of each nymphal instar, viability of the nymphs, start of oviposition and longevity of the females were recorded. Biological development of insects was stipulated by the SAS University Edition software, version 9.4. There were differences in the life cycle of the pseudococcid at both temperatures evaluated. Females of S. sacchari had three nymphal instars and reproduce asexually. Asexual reproduction occurs in the field and under controlled conditions. By increasing the temperature increases, insect lived longer and the presence of the winged male in Brazil indicates the possibility of sexual reproduction of the species.