Spittle bug menace in jack fruit
The jack fruit tree is often susceptible to ravages of insects known as spittle bugs.
As the name denotes, these peculiar bugs secrete frothy mass all over their body. The blunt head and prominent eyes of these bugs resemble a frog and they are also called as frog hoppers.
The nymphs and adults suck the plant sap 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
The infestation starts from December to January at flowering stage and reaches a peak during March. Fruit set is greatly affected.
The bugs lay eggs inside tissues of tender terminal twigs. On hatching, the nymphs make their way to leaf axils and base of flower pedicles.
Frothy mass
They feed on the sap and start excreting a frothy mass which completely covers the body. This froth protects the bugs from natural enemies.
Adults come out from the froth and measure about 15 mm long, brown, with a red head. The total life cycle takes about two months.
Pest management
— Collect the frothy masses and destroy them
— Remove and destroy the affected shoots.
— Proper pruning and training of the tree will help combat the pest.
— Improve the sanitation of orchards.
— 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, Thadiyankudisai
Perumparai, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu
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