5. Mango mealy bug: Drosicha mangiferae (Pseudococcidae: Hemiptera)

Distribution and Status : India, Bangladesh, China and South East Asia

Host range : Mango, apple, apricot, ber, cherry, Citrus spp., fig, grape vine, guava, jack, jamun, litchi, mulberry and pomegranate.

Damage symptoms: Damages caused by nymphs and wingless females. They infest the leaves and inflorescence. Nymphs climb up the tree congregate together and suck juice from young shoots, panicles and flower pedicels. The affected parts dry up and yield is reduced substantially.

Bionomics : Oval, shining pink eggs laid in the soil upto 15 cm. Egg hatching starts at the end of December and continues upto month. First instar nymphs climb and ascend the trees immediately. They pass 3 nymphal instars. Adult longetivity for male and female are 7 and 15-35 days respectively. Female lays eggs for 22-47 days during april-may. Adults are oval, flat, body covered with white mealy powder. Males have one pair of black wings and are crimson red.

IPM

• Remove weeds like Clerodendrum inflortunatum and grasses by ploughing during June-July.
• Plough orchards during summer to expose the eggs to natural enemies and extreme heat.
• Band the trees with 20 cm wide alkalthene of polythene (400 gauge) in the middle of December (50 cm above the ground level and just below the junction of branching).Tie stem with jute thread and apply a little mud of fruit tree grease on the lower edge of the band.
• Release Australian ladybird beetle, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri @ 10/tree
• If necessary spray  dimethoate 30 EC or moncrotophos 36 SL 2.5-3.3L , methyldemeton 25 EC or  malathion 50 EC 1.5 -2.0 L  or chlorpryriphos 20 EC 3.0 – 4.0 L or methyl parathion 50 EC 1.5 – 2.0 L in 1500 – 2000 L water per ha
• Once the pest reaches the top of the plant, control becomes rather difficult.