Some responses of cryptic mealybug, Pseudococcus cryptus, for a sex pheromone, [(1R,3R)-3-isopropenyl-2,2-dimethylcyclobutyl]methyl 3-methyl-3-butenoate, were studied to develop the applying strategy of sex pheromone trap for efficient monitoring and control-time decision in citrus orchards grown in greenhouse for 2 years (2007-2008). The optimal concentration of a sex pheromone was 1.0㎎ per hexane 100㎕ in a using pheromone lure. There was no significant effect of the attraction of male adults among different colours (white, blue and yellow) of plate-type trap baited with sex pheromone. The more male adults were attracted, as the distance of a pheromone trap form a citrus tree infested with cryptic mealybug was closer. The male adults were caught to sex pheromone trap from middle April to late November, and its peak period was the middle of July. The thermal constant for the next attraction was about 640 degree-days (lower threshold temperature=12℃) after confirmed the first attraction of male adults. The optimum control time for cryptic mealybug after the first attraction of male adults were confirmed was estimated as 450 to 500 degree-days.

Cryptic mealybug (CMB), Pseudococcus cryptus, is a serious scale pest on citrus, especially grown in plastic greenhouse on Jeju island, Korea. Binomial sampling plan was developed using the relationship between infested proportion of twig with less than T scales (pT) and mean density per twig (m) according to the empirical model ln(m)=α+βln(-ln(1-pT)). T was defined as tally threshold and set to 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 scales per twig in this study. T=3 was the best tally threshold for estimating densities of CMB based on the precision of the model. Binomial model with T=3 provided reliable predictions of mean densities of CMB observed on commercial citrus orchards. The obtaining model was evaluated by resampling validation of Wald's sequential binomial plan and by fit at 95% confidence intervals for independent collected data sets. Binomial sampling program for decision-making of CMB population level was obtained at the action threshold 0.10, proportion of twig infested with more than 3 scales.

Temperature-dependent development and oviposition component models were developed for Pseudococcus cryptus Hempel (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae). Egg development times decreased with increasing temperature and ranged from 2.4d at 16℃ to 1.0d at 28℃. Total development times of nymphs reared on citrus leaves decreased from 54.9d at 16℃ to 17.4d at 28℃ and 19.3d at 32℃. As P. cryptus showed an ovoviviparous reproductive behavior, the periods of egg and the 1st nymph were combined. By fitting linear models to the data the lower developmental threshold temperatures for egg-1st nymphs, the 2nd nymphs, the 3rd nymphs, and all nymphs combined were calculated as 8.7, 12.8, 13.1, and 12.1℃, respectively. The thermal constants were 198.6, 84.7, 69.8, and 296.3 degree-days for each of the above stages. The non-linear model based on a Gaussian equation, which fits the relationship between development rate and temperature was well for all stages. Adult longevity decreased with increasing temperature and ranged from 80.4d at 16 to 31.3d at 32.0℃. Also, preoviposition and oviposition periods showed a similar pattern with the longevity. P. cryptus had a maximum fecundity of 111 eggs per female at 28℃, which declined to 102.7 eggs per female at 32℃.