Insect Pests of Fruit, Plantation, Medicinal & Aromatic Crops (2+1)

2. Aphids -Toxoptera citricidus Kirkaldy and T. aurantii Boyen. (Aphididae Hemipetera)

Damage

• Both nymphs and adults suck the sap from the leaves resulting stunting, curling of leaves and falling of flower buds and developing fruits.
• The infested leaf attracts sooty mould due to honeydew secretion of the insect.
Bionomics

• The adult fly is dark orange with smoky wings and fore wings having four whitish areas of the irregular shape.
• The female fly lays yellowish brown, oval eggs arranged in spiral on broad leaves.
• The egg period is 7-14 days.
• The nymphal period is 38-60 days with four nymphal instars.
• It pupates on leaf surface.
• The pupal period last for 100-131 days. There are two generations in a year.
Management

• Spray monocrotophos 36 WSC at 1.5 ml/litre of water.