Cardamom aphid: Pentalonia nigronervosa f.caladii

Symptoms of damage:

• Nymphs and adults suck up plant sap.
• Colonies of aphids are seen under concealed conditions inside leaf sheaths of the older pseudo stems.
• The aphids act as a vector of the mosaic or 'Katte' virus of cardamom.

Identification of pest:

• Wingless aphid is dark brown, pyriform.
• Winged aphids have wings having prominent black veins

Management:

• Removal of Colocasia and other hosts in the vicinity of cardamom plantation is recommended.
• Remove partly dried and decayed pseudostems which harbour the colonies of aphids to reduce aphid population and
• Foliar spraying with dimethoate 2 ml/lit at an interval of 2 weeks in November and April gives adequate control.