Alternate host, Diseases, Parthenium hysterophorus, Pests, Phenacoccus solenopsis 

Parthenium is an alien invasive species spreading very fast in natural and agricultural ecosystems of Pakistan. Besides having direct negative effects on many field crops and other economically important plants, this weed has also been reported to be an alternate host of a number of agricultural pests and diseases. This paper reports Parthenium weed being as an emerging host for cotton mealy bug in Pakistan. Efforts were needed to remove Parthenium weed from cotton growing belt to minimize the damages caused by this pest to cotton crop in the season.