author(s)
N Lalitha, Hirak Chatterjee, MV Santhakumar and S Nirmal Kumar

abstract
A new species of Scymnus Kugelann, Scymnus (Pullus) latifolius Poorani sp. nov., (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) was collected from mealybug infested mulberry shoots in West Bengal. The new predator was found predating on the life stages of Paracoccus marginatus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in mulberry gardens. The life stages of the predator were collected from the mulberry gardens and acclimatized in the laboratory for further studies. Feeding efficacy studies conducted in the laboratory at 25-28⁰C and 65-70% RH established that the grubs and adults of the Scymnus latifolius sp. nov. were found to feed on all the stages of the mealy bugs. Each grub of the predator devoured a mean of 1775.67 ±28.80 eggs or 225.42 ± 6.31 crawlers or 33.33 ± 1.56 adults of P. marginatus during its entire larval feeding period. An adult female preyed on 2316.33 ± 62.78 eggs or 302.50 ± 8.50 nymphs or 59.75 ± 1.45 adults of host P. marginatus whereas an adult male devoured 1815.08 ± 27.99 eggs or 239.50 ± 8.85 nymphs or 54.25 ± 1.16 adults during its entire adult feeding period. The studies indicated the scope of utilizing the promising native predator in biocontrol of mealybugs.