Determination of suitable host plant for rearing of <i>Coccus hesperidum</i> (Homoptera: Coccidae)

Brown soft scale, Coccus hesperidum Linnaues (Homoptera: Coccidae) is an economically important pest on wide range of horticultural and agricultural crops. A study was carried out to determine the suitability of three host plants, black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), mandarin (Citrus reticulata) and cotton (Gossypium barbadense), for mass rearing of C. hesperidum under laboratory conditions of 25±2 °C, 65±5% RH and photoperiod of 14D:10L. C. hesperidum was able to develop and reproduce on all three host plants. However, according to developmental period, longevity and fecundity, mandarin was the best among the three host plants.