Managing mango stem weevil
MANGO STEM weevil (MSW), Sternochetus mangifera: is an important pest of mango.
Affected fruits fall prematurely fall. Infested fruits result in spoilage of pulp, affecting the canning industries.
The weevil has been a hindrance for export of fresh fruits and Seeds with weevil fail to germinate and are not useful for rootstock production in nurseries.
Zigzag fashion
Female weevils lay eggs inside the fruit epicarp (a dark brownish red spot on fruit rind at marble fruit stage indicates the site of oviposition) and freshly hatched grubs enter the seed where they feed in a zigzag fashion.
The weevil completes its immature and adult stages inside the stone. Only adult weevils emerge out through circular holes made on ripe fruit.
Collection and destruction of fallen fruits at weekly interval till harvest. Hoeing and ploughing of orchards after harvest to make weed free and bagging of fruits are some effective field sanitation measures.
Chemical control
Three foliar sprayings at 15 days interval with 0.0025 per cent deltamethrin starting after fruit se,; 0.1 per cent carbaryl and 0.01 per cent fenvalerate from the 2nd week of March when the fruits are pea sized and again at 21 days interval.
— Trunk spray of Diazinon 0.05 per cent followed by 2 sprays after marble stage at 15 days interval.
— Three sprays of either Monocrotophos 0.05 per cent or Fenthion 0.08 per cent at pre-flowering, at pea stage and at marble size with clean cultivation, sanitation and ploughing between trees gave 100 per cent control of the pest in Neelum variety.
RESMI. J
College of Agriculture
Kerala Agricultural University
Thiruvananthapuram
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Sci Tech
