author(s)
Jithu U Krishnan, Meera George, Ajesh G, Jithine JR, Lekshmi NR, Deepasree MI

abstract
Paracoccus marginatus Williams-Papaya mealy bug (PMB) is one among the serious pests in horticultural crops and this causes a great economic drain to a nation depending on the sector of agriculture. These white silent army is becoming a cosmopolitan by it behaviour spreading its host range to more and more-wider ecological strata. From beneath the leaf to the root is a wide stage for this pest to destroy the crop with immature/low yield. PMB is one among the many types of mealybug species and is the toughest among the group by being sedentary and execute hyper activity according to favourability in environment. Management strategies are so limited over this pest because of the thick waxy coating they hold that keep away its delicate body from synthetic contact. Since it is a major pest, quarantine protocols are strictly needed for this pest not only for a national perspective but also from a farm hand seed material to another adjacent. Application of biopesticides with recommended dose of surfactant was the most recommended practice though it holds constrain in wide field applications. If proper natural multiplications are possible in the required time, introduction of parasitoids against PMB provides scope to manage the pest in large field of pest attack.