Studies onDicrodiplosis manihoti Harris (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), a common predator of mealybugs

Biweekly samples of 4 species of mealybugs infesting fruit and ornamentals in Salalh, Sultanate of Oman, revealed thatDicrodiplosis manihoti Harr. was found to associate with the long-tailed mealybug and citrus mealybug. The predator occurred almost all the year round and preyed on nymphs and adult females. Biological studies showed that the incubating period of the predator-egg averaged 2.8 days. The larval stage lasted 11.4 days and consumed an average of 5.6, adult females of the long-tailed mealybug. The pupal stage lasted 10.1 days. The total number of eggs deposited/female averaged 36 during her very short life span which averaged 2.3 days.