Control of mealy bugs in tamarind
Four species of mealy bugs
namely Perissopneumon
tamarindus, Drosicha mangiferae,
Nipaecoccus viridis,
and Planococcus lilacinus severely
infest tamarind trees
during flowering and fruit development
stage.
Both the nymph and adult
stages suck the cell sap on
growing twigs and developing
pods. It results in premature
shedding of flower buds and
immature pods. Besides the
fruit setting capacity is affected,
the size of the fruit is
much reduced and the shape
malformed.
The honey dews excreted
by the mealy bugs retard the
growth of fruit development.
The mealy bugs are not affected
by ants in terms of mutualism.
The yield loss goes
upto 70 per cent under orchard
cultivation due to
mealy bug attack.
Pest biology
The females descend the
trees and enter into the soil
for laying eggs. On hatching
the nymphs crawl up to the
aerial portion of the tree and
settle on succulent and tender
foliage for feeding. The
body is covered with white
waxy fluffy secretions which
is characteristic to these
mealy bugs.
Management practices
Plough around the trees to
expose and kill the nymphs.
Prune the trees periodically.
Remove infested twigs and
destroy the nymphal and
adult stages in the initial
stage of attack.
Destroy nests of ants
around the trees
Tie polythene sticky
strapes of 30cm width round
the tree trunks to prevent
nymphs from ascendingto the
ground.
Banding the trunk with
carbaryl keeps off the attendant
ants and allows natural
enemies to clean up the
mealybug infestation.
Drench the infested twigs
with 2 per cent neem oil
suspension.
Spray dichlorvos (0.2 per
cent) mixed with fish oil rosin
soap (25g/lit) and treat the
soil with 1.3 per cent lindane
dust at 500g/tree.
In case of severe infestation
spray with 0.1 per cent
diazinon or Monocrotophos,
Malathion 0.05 per cent or
dimethoate 0.03 per cent.
J. JAYARAJ & M. ANANTHAN
Horticultural Research Station, Thadiyankudisai Perumparai, Dindigul District. Tamil Nadu
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