Sri Vijaya Puram, May 22: Mealy bug incidence is observed during the hot & dry season in Coconut, Vegetables and Fruit Crops in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Mealy bugs suck plant sap, weaken plant growth and secrete honeydew that promotes sooty mould development. Ants protect and spread mealy bugs from plant to plant in exchange for honeydew, thereby increasing infestation levels. Farmers are therefore advised to regularly monitor their crop and to adopt integrated management practices at an early stage to prevent economic losses.
Recommended control measures:
•Regularly inspect plants, especially the undersides of leaves, tender shoots and stems for early infestation.
•Isolate and remove heavily infested plant parts to prevent spread.
•Rake the soil around plants twice and apply Neem cake @ 4 kg/tree.
•Remove weeds and alternate host plants from the field.
•Spray 2% Neem oil. Spraying soap solution (5 gm/ lit.) before the spraying of Neem oil can help in removing waxy layer of mealy bugs.
•Apply Fish Oil Rosin Soap (FORS) @ 25 g/L to reduce pest load.
•Spray Beauveria bassiana @ 5 g/L during humid months in reducing the population of Mealy bugs.
•For small infestations, wipe insects using cotton dipped in isopropyl alcohol or dislodge them with a strong water spray.
•Control ant movement by destroying ant colonies and applying sticky bands on tree trunks to prevent ants from carrying mealy bugs.
Farmers have been advised to follow integrated pest management (IPM) practices and avoid indiscriminate pesticide use to conserve beneficial insects and maintain ecological balance. Further they are advised to contact nearest Agriculture Sub- Depot/Zonal Agriculture Office or contact at Kisan Call Centre No.-03192 243434.