4. Tea mosquito bug

4. Tea mosquito bug - Helopeltis theivora Sign. (Miridae: Hemiptera)
    Damage
    • The nymphs and adults feed on the young leaves, buds and tender shoots the tissues around the feeding punctures die and dry up due to toxic action of saliva injected.
    • It results the water soaked lesions followed by brownish spots at the feeding site. Resin exudes from the feeding puncture. Blossom or inflorescence blight and die back symptoms appear.
    • The terminal shoots are also dried.
    • Shedding of flowers and nut also takes place.
    Bionomics
    • The adult is a reddish brown bug with red thorax and black and white abdomen.
    • The eggs are inserted into the epidermis of tender shoots, axis of inflorescence, the buds and midribs.
    • The eggs are sausage shaped, 2 mm long, slightly covered with a pair of breathing filaments which project out its operculum.
    • The egg period is 5 to 7 days. Nymphal period is 15 days.
    • The reddish brown and ant like nymphs undergoes five instars.
    • The life cycle is completed in 22 days.
    • This pest attacks guava, cocoa, pepper, cinchona, tamarind, mango, neem, cotton and avocado.
    Management
    • Spray Dimethoate 0.03 % /litre + urea 3% thrice. The first at the time of emergence of new flushes the second at floral formation and the third at fruit set.
    • Remove dead wood and criss cross branches in cashew plantations atleast once in two to three years will help in effective spraying of insecticides against the pest.

Last modified: Tuesday, 26 June 2012, 6:37 AM