1. Tea mosquito bug

1. Tea mosquito bug - Helopeltis antonii Sign. (Miridae: Hemiotera)
    • It is a serious pest of neem and is widely distributed in Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and TamilNadu. Tea, cahew, moringa and guava are other host plants. Adult is reddish brown bug with black head, red thorax, and black and white abdomen. A knobbed process is characteristic on mid-dorsal thorax.
    • Eggs are inserted into epidermis of tender shoot and axis of inflorescence. Eggs are elongated and slightly curved with a pair of filaments. Egg period lasts for 7 to 8 days . Nymphal duration is 14 to 16 days. Life cycle is completed in 22 to 25 days.
    • Adults and nymphs desap on petioles, tender shoots, and leaf veins causing necrotic lesions. On foliage, brownish-black necrotic patches appear and on shoots, elongate streaks and patches. Resin exudes from the feeding punctures. Blossom – blight and die-back symptoms appear. Widespreading drying of shoots, inflorescence and flowers and shedding of drupes or fruits are common.
    Management
    1. Collect and destroy the damaged plant parts.
    2. Spary dimethoate 0.03 % /1.2ml

Last modified: Tuesday, 26 June 2012, 6:43 AM