Control of spittle bug menace in jack fruit
The jack fruit tree often sustains some loss due to ravages of insects known as spittle bugs.
As the name denotes, these peculiar bugs secrete frothy mass over their body. The blunt head and prominent eyes of these bugs are similar to those of a frog and hence they are called ‘Frog hoppers’ too.
Damage symptoms
The nymphs and adults suck plant juices from phloem of terminal twigs, young shoots and leaves.
This results in yellowing and curling of leaves, drying of terminal shoots and weakening of the tree during blossom stage.
Fruit set is greatly affected. Severe infestation often produces dripping of overflowing frothy mass under the tree like fine rainfall.
The infestation starts from December to January at flowering stage and reaches a peak during March.
Pest Biology
The eggs are laid in tissues of tender terminal twigs. On hatching, the nymphs make their way in fixing suitable spots like leaf axles and base of flower pedicles.
On feeding of sap they commence the excretion of spumy spittle. The frothy mass completely covers the nymphs, which protects them from natural enemies.
Adults come out from the froth and measure about 15 mm long brown with red head. The total life cycle takes about two months.
Management practices
— Collect the frothy masses and destroy them.
— Remove and destroy the affected shoots.
— Proper pruning and training of the tree will help combating the pest.
— Improve the sanitation of orchard.
— Application of recommended dose of fertilizers and sufficient irrigation will make the tree tolerant to pest attack.
— Spray Quinalphos 0.05 per cent or Monocrotophos 0.04 per cent or Neem oil 0.03 per cent during flowering.
— Adults can be controlled by dusting with carbaryl.
J. Jayaraj
& M. Ananthan
Horticultural Research Station, Dindigul
Tamil Nadu
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