Molecular identification and genetic diversity studies of a scale-like insect infesting mango and citrus orchards in Pakistan

Mango and citrus orchards in Pakistan are targeted by a scale-like insect. The insect is commonly called “mango mealybug” and is reported with the same name in local literature as well. It is univoltine (active from February-May) and is found on multiple tree species. We collected the insect from several tree species and identified on the basis of DNA sequences of three nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, elongation factor-1α) and one mitochondrial gene (COI). The nucleotide homologies and phylogenetic analysis using DNA sequence data indicated that the mango mealybug belonged to the genus Drosicha and was closest to Drosicha corpulenta. Genetic diversity among mealybug populations collected from various host plants was investigated using PCR-RFLP analysis of the internal transcribed spacer-1 of rRNA.