CARDAMOM :: MAJOR PEST :: CARDAMOM APHID

3. Cardamom aphid: Pentalonia nigronervosa f. caladii (Aphididae: Hemiptera) 
Distribution and status: India , Australia, Sri Lanka.  Major pest. It is a vector of “Katte” or marble mosaic disease in small cardamom.
Host range:  Colocasia sp., Alocasia sp. and Banana.
Damage symptoms
         Nymphs and adult infest the leaf sheath and the pseudostem. Colonies of aphids are seen inside leaf sheaths of the older pseudostems.
Bionomics: refer banana
Management

1. Remove alternate hosts like Alocasia and Colcasia in the vicinity.
2. Remove partly dried and decayed pseudostems which harbour the colonies of aphids
3. Spray methy demeton 25 EC or dimethoate 30 EC 1.0 L in 500 – 1000 L water per ha.