Assessment of host plant species for a trap cropping approach in integrated pineapple mealybug (Dysmicoccus brevipes) management

Abstract

For pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.] producers fighting the pineapple mealybug [Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell
1893)], a pest that causes major damage globally, choosing the appropriate crop management plan is essential for
agricultural success. Mealybugs are tiny, soft-bodied insects that may seriously harm crops by secreting honeydew, a sticky
substance that hinders photosynthesis and encourages the formation of mould (Palma-jiménez and Blanco-meneses 2018).
By sucking sap and dispersing viruses, the pineapple mealybug is infamous for limiting development and even destroying
plants (Lisnawita et al. 2023). Their broad host range makes them difficult to manage. Chemical control techniques, such
as the use of synthetic pesticides like organophosphates (like malathion), neo-nicotinoids, and chitin-biosynthesis inhibitors,
have historically been the main means of managing pineapple mealybug infestation in plants (Wallingford et al. 2015,
Lembaga Perindustrian Nanas Malaysia 2020). Despite their initial effectiveness, excessive use of these compounds may
be harmful to people and animals as well as the environment. Nevertheless, frequent use of these substances may result in
insect resistance, which might eventually reduce these insecticides' effectiveness (Leong et al. 2020).
Alternative approaches are being investigated to lessen reliance on chemical pesticides. Leveraging the host selection
behaviour of mealybugs for control has been the subject of recent study. Growing non-crop plants in a designated area to
draw pests away from primary crops is known as "trap cropping," and it has shown to be a successful and long-term solution
(Sarkar et al. 2018). Without the drawbacks of using chemicals, this technique, which takes advantage of pests' preferences
for certain plants, has been effective in lowering pest populations and minimising damage (Popp et al. 2013, Dara 2019).