PESTS OF SAFFLOWER :: Major Pests :: Safflower Aphid

3. Safflower Aphid: Uroleucon compositae (Aphididae: Hemiptera)

Distribution and status: This pest causes considerable damage to safflower in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana.

Bionomics: The aphids are small shining black, soft bodied insects. The nymphs are smaller in size and are reddish brown in colour. The aphid is active from December to April. A female produces 6-56 young ones with an average of 21. It completes its life cycle in 11-16 days. The adult aphid has a life span of 17 days.

Damage symptoms: The aphids suck the sap from leaves, twigs, flowers and capsules. In infested plants, the height, number of leaves and shoots reduce significantly. The plants become weak, remain stunted and· sometimes dry up. Seed production is seriously affected. The aphids secrete honeydew which attracts a black sooty mould.

Management

• Spray 250 ml of dimethoate 30 EC or monocrotophos 36 SL or 625 ml of chlorpyriphos 20 EC in 750 litres of water/ha and repeat the spray after 15 days, if necessary.
• Conserve parasitoid Aphidencyrtus aphidivorus and predator Brumoides suturalis