Monthly Prevalence of Giant Mealy Bugs and Birds in Home Economics College of Dhaka University, Bangladesh

1. Submitted By
Examination Roll No.: 107409, 107440, 093427, 093441
Session: 2009-2010

2. Monthly Prevalence of Giant Mealy Bugs and Birds in Home
Economics College of Dhaka University, Bangladesh

3. Systematic Position
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Homoptera
Superfamily Coccidea
Family Pseudococcidae
Genus Drisicha
Species D. mangiferae
(Heymons,1915)
Fig. Giant Mealy Bug (D. mangiferae)
About Mealy Bugs

4. About Mealy Bugs
 Mealy bugs are named for their whitish ‘mealy’ wax, which helps retard the loss
of water from their soft bodies.
 Different species of Mealy bugs prefer different feeding sites - some species
feed in and under bark, while others feed on fruits, flowers or seed heads.
 The main meals of this insect is green leaves and flowers.
 The insect does not bite anybody but creates itching, allergy and inhalation
problem by its dust.
 Mealy bugs hatched in autumn survive over winter.

5. A B
Fig. A and B showing image of Mealy bugs
About Mealy Bugs

6. Aims and Objectives
 To make a list of floral (host plant of Mealy bug) species with their DBH of the
Home Economics College.
 To find and count the number of Mealy bugs at the bark and leaves of different plant
species.
 To observe the available bird species within the Home Economics College.
 To find out the probable causes of the breakout of Mealy bugs at the study area.

7. Study Area and Time
Figure: Map of study Area taken from google map
• The study was conducted in Home Economics College of Dhaka University.
• The College of Home Economics located at Azimpur road, Azimpur Dhaka.
• The study was conducted from June to October, 2014.

8. Materials
We have used the following apparatus in this survey.
The list is given below:
• Binocular
• Poly-bags
• Insect box
• 70% alcohol.
• Data recording sheets
• Pencil.
• Forceps
• Plastic bottle
• Watch glass
• Torch
• Camera ( Canon
1100D,Lense 55-250mm)
• Hand gloves
• Diameter tape

9. Methods
Measuring trees diameter at breast height (DBH)
We used diameter tape method to measure trees diameter at breast height (DBH).
We used the following rules to measurement of trees:
Fig. Presence of tree fork below breast height

10. Methods
Fig. Tree with buttress
Fig. Tree splitting into several stems close to the ground level

11. Bird watching method
 A transect is a line across a habitat or part of a habitat. It can be as simple as a
string or rope placed in a line on the ground.
 Especially we were looking for insect eating birds. We were collecting our data
weekly.
Methods

12. Insect collection and counting method
 In Home Economics College, 10 rows were selected and observed .
 We used forceps and poly-bags for sample collection.
 Then we count their quantity in affected trees.
 Then we took some snap shots of the insects and their affected trees.
Methods

13. Prevalence of Giant Mealy bugs of Home Economics College
Month Week
Number of mealy bugs
Total Avg
In corridors In host plants
June
Week 1 10 10 20
20
Week 2 4 16 20
July
Week 1 17 13 30
26.33Week 2 25 15 40
Week 3 2 8 10
August
Week 1 4 6 10
5
Week 2 0 0 0
September W1-W4 0 0 0 0
October W1-W4 0 0 0 0
Total 62 68 130
Result and Discussion

14. Meteorological data of Dhaka city during study period
Month Week
Temperature (0C)
Avg Temp (0C) Rainfall (mm)
Max Min Average
June
Week 1 32 22 27
31±2.71 315
Week 2 37 28 32
Week 3 40 25 33
Week 4 35 26 32
July
Week 1 34 25 32
32±0 329
Week 2 31 26 32
Week 3 33 28 32
Week 4 31 27 32
August
Week 1 35 28 32
32±0 337
Week 2 34 27 32
Week 3 33 25 32
Week 4 37 27 32
September
Week 1 30 25 27
29±2.94 248
Week 2 35 26 31
Week 3 28 26 26
Week 4 37 28 32
October
Week 1 34 25 32
32±0 134Week 2 35 26 32
Week 3 36 27 32
Result and Discussion

15. List of bird species of Home Economics College, 2014
Sl Scientific Name Common name Local Name Order Family
1 Corvus splendens House Crow Pati kak Passeriformes Corvidae
2 Corvus macrorhynchos Jungle Crow Dar Kak Passeriformes Corvidae
3 Acridotheres tristis Common Myna Bhat-shalik Passeriformes Sturnidae
4 Sturnus contra Pied Myna Go-shalik Passeriformes Sturnidae
5 Dicrurus macrocercus Black Drongo Kala-fingey Passeriformes Dicruridae
6 Passer domesticus House Sparrow Pati Chorui Passeriformes Passeridae
7 Orthotomus sutorius Common Tailor Bird Tuntuni Passeriformes Cisticolidae
8 Copsychus saularis Oriental Magpie Robin Doel Passeriformes Muscicapidae
9 Dicrurus leucophaeus Ashy Drongo Mete-fingey Passeriformes Dicruridae
10 Alcedoathis benglaensis Common kingfisher Masranga Coraciiformes Alcedinidae
11 Halcyon smyrnensis White Throated Kingfisher Dhola-gola Machranga Coraciiformes Halcyonidae
12 Dinopium benghalense Black Rumped Flameback Bangla Kaththokra Piciformes Picidae
13 Dendrocopos macei Fulvous Breaste Woodpecker Batabi Kathkuruli Piciformes Picidae
14 Columba livia Rock Pigeon Jalali Kobutor Columbiformes Columbidae
15 Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Dove Tila ghughu Columbiformes Columbidae
16 Eudynamys scolopaceas Asian Koel Kokil Cuculiformes Cuculidae
17 Milvus migrans Black Kite Bhubon Cheel Falconiformes Accipitridae
18 Psittacula krameri Rose Ringed Parakee Shobuj tia Psittaciformes Psittaculidae
Result and Discussion

16. Sl Scientific Name
Months, 2014
Total Avg Stdev
JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT
1 Corvus splendens 7.75 8.75 7.25 9.75 8.75 42.25 8.45 0.975
2 Corvus macrorhynchos 2.00 2.00 1.50 1.25 2.00 8.75 1.75 0.354
3 Acridotheres tristis 8.50 5.75 9.75 8.25 10.50 42.75 8.55 1.815
4 Sturnus contra 4.00 5.50 5.00 6.50 5.50 26.50 5.30 0.908
5 Dicrurus macrocercus 3.75 4.67 6.00 7.50 5.25 27.17 5.43 1.418
6 Passer domesticus 3.50 5.50 7.50 5.00 7.50 31.00 6.20 1.857
7 Orthotomus sutorius 4.25 6.50 5.25 4.25 6.50 27.75 5.55 1.430
8 Copsychus saularis 3.75 3.50 4.50 5.25 7.50 27.50 5.50 1.551
9 Dicrurus leucophaeus 3.00 2.50 5.50 4.25 5.25 26.75 5.35 1.782
10 Alcedoathis benglaensis 3.50 7.50 3.50 3.25 4.50 28.25 5.65 1.496
11 Halcyon smyrnensis 2.75 6.75 6.25 4.25 6.50 26.50 5.30 1.736
12 Dinopium benghalense 2.00 2.00 1.25 1.50 2.00 8.75 1. 75 0.354
13 Dendrocopos macei 3.50 5.00 4.75 4.25 6.50 26.00 5.20 1.494
14 Columba livia 3.75 7.25 5.00 5.25 5.50 28.25 5.65 1.365
15 Streptopelia chinensis 3.00 7.75 5.25 4.50 6.50 26.75 5.35 1.859
16 Eudynamys scolopaceas 4.00 7.00 4.50 4.75 4.50 27.75 5.55 1.483
17 Milvus migrans 3.75 7.25 6.50 4.25 5.50 25.50 5.50 1.551
18 Psittacula krameri 3.75 7.50 4.50 3.00 6.50 24.50 5.50 1.551
Total 70.5 102.7 93.75 87 106.75 482.67 95.78
Average number of bird species of Home Economics College
Result and Discussion

17. 86
74
105
65 67
5
0
8
3
8
4 6
2 4 24
12
9
17
11
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
June July August September October
Passeriformes Coraciiformes Piciformes Columbiformes Cuculiformes Falconiformes Psittaciformes Apodiformes
Figure: Recorded bird species of Home Economics College (Order basis)
Result and Discussion

18. Fig. Dinopiu benghalense
Fig. Corvus splendens
Fig. Psittacula krameri
Fig. Corvus macrorhynchos
Result and Discussion

19. Fig. Passer domesticus Fig. Columba livia
Result and Discussion

20. Sl English name Scientific name
Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) in cm
1 2 3 4 5
1 Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus 19.75 5.41 7.32 7.64 24.84
2 Mango Mangifera indica 9.87 14.33 12.10 7.64 12.74
3 Elephant apple Dillenia indica 14.01 1.59 23.57 44.59 14.33
4 Sugar apple Annona squamosa 20.38 14.01 10.19
5 Star fruit Averrhoa arambolac 42.36 8.28 11.78
6 Black berry Syzygium cumini 23.57
7 Lemon Citrus grandis 4.14
8 Coconut Cocos nucifera 34.39
9 Wood apple Aegle marmelos 9.55
10 Bulletwood tree Mimusops elengi 20.38 31.85
11 Cape Jasmine Gardenia jasminoides 7.01
12 Jarul Lagerstromia indica 30.57
13 Radii Codiaeum reidii 6.37 8.60 9.24 31.85 33.44
14 Rubber Hevea brasiliensis 4.78 9.39
15 Mahogany Swietenia mahagoni 21.34 27.71
16 Sisso Dulbergia sissoo 29.30 19.11
17 Indian oak Barringtonia acutangula 17.52
18 Guava Psidium guajava 4.78 8.28 4.46
19 Oil palm Elaeis oleifera 37.26
20 Golden shower Cassia fistula 8.60 21.34
21 Ipil Leucaena leucocephala 15.92
22 Indian Palm Zizyphus maurifiana 21.34
23 Silk flower Albizia procera 46.18 17.52 79.62 37.26 111.46
24 Date-palm Phoenix sylvestris 37.26
Diameter at breast height of host plant of Home Economics College
Result and Discussion

21. Result and Discussion
A
D
B
C
Fig. A, B, C and D are the host plants of Mealy bugs of Home
Economics College

22. Result and Discussion
Positive and weak relationship was found between Mealy bug Prevalence and
Temperature (rs= 0.332183, n= 5). Again, Mealy bug Prevalence was strong
positively correlated with rainfall (rs= 0.641799, n= 5). A weak negative correlation
was found between Mealy bug and bird Prevalence (rs= -0.21116, n=5).
Month Temp (0C) Rainfall (mm) Number of Birds Number of Mealy bugs
June 31 3.15 70.5 20
July 32 3.29 102.67 26.33
August 32 3.37 93.75 5
September 29 2.48 87 0
October 32 1.34 106.75 0
Correlation of Mealy bug Prevalence with temperature, rainfall and birds

23. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
June July August September October
Avg Temp (0C) Rainfall (mm) Avg Number of Mealy bugs
Fig. Average Temperature, Rainfall and average number of Mealy bugs
Result and Discussion

24. Result and Discussion
y = -0.1x + 31.5
R² = 0.0147
y = -6.633x + 30.165
R² = 0.744
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Avg Temp (0C) Avg Number of Mealy bugs
Fig. Relationship between Mealy bugs and Temperature
y = -0.443x + 4.055
R² = 0.6781
y = -6.633x + 30.165
R² = 0.744
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Rainfall (mm) Avg Number of Mealy bugs
Fig. Relationship between Mealy bugs and rainfall

25. Result and Discussion
Fig. Relationship between Mealy bugs and Temperature
Fig. Relationship between Mealy bugs and birds
y = 5.683x + 75.085
R² = 0.3931
y = -6.633x + 30.165
R² = 0.744
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Birds Avg Number of Mealy bugs
Linear (Birds) Linear (Avg Number of Mealy bugs)

26. Result and Discussion
A B
C D
Fig. A, B, C and D shown Mealy bugs on different plants

27.  At first in 2013 a new species of giant Mealy bug was observed in Dhaka Cantonment and its
vicinity.
 This species was known to be transmitted by the military equipment from Congo. In 2014 this
Giant Mealy bug was again breakout in Home Economics College.
 Outbreaks can be initiated by increases in plant food quality that occur under a variety of a
biotic environmental condition, including the influence of the weather.
 Mealy bugs prefer mild warm conditions with temperatures around 25°C and high humidity.
While hot dry conditions can reduce mealy bug infestation pressure into the latter part of the
season, populations can rebuild rapidly if conditions become favorable as conditions cool into
autumn (Braybrook, 2012).
 The mealybug has commonly been considered a ‘secondary pest’ and outbreaks often
associated with lower numbers of beneficial species (Mr David Braybrook, September, 2012).
 In Home Economics College campus, the predator pressure, especially insectivorous bird
prevalence is comparatively low and it is one of the most important courses of outbreak of
Mealy bugs there.
 So, the present research recommends a better bird finding campus against mealy bug. and
planting some fruit yielding nativa plants can help in this regard
Result and Discussion

28. A five month survey on prevalence of giant mealy bug and birds, prevalence
along with plant list was carried out at Homo Economic College, Dhaka.
 The highest bird species was under order Passeriformes and lowest under order
Piciformes.
 It was noticeable that the campus lacks fruit yielding plants what can help to
increase the number of birds.
 We also noticed that it was also varied in number with the change of
temperature and rainfall.
 An increased number of birds foraging the campus can play vital roles continues
causes of any further outbreak of mealy bugs.
Summary and Conclusion

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