Wooly Aphid: Ceratovacuna lanigera , Ceratovacuna graminum

Symptoms of damage:

• Nymph and adults suck the sap from leaves
• Honey dew excrete- development of sooty mould fungus
• White chalk powder coating on the ground and leaves

Identification of the pest:

• Nymph: Third and fourth instar nymphs covered with white wooly secretion
• Adult: Apterous adults covered with white wooly secretion
• Ceratovacunalanigera:  Light green colour
• C. graminum:  Light yellow in colour, winged adult is black in colour

Management:

• Field release of biocontrol agents like Dipha aphidivora, Micromus and coccinellids
• Avoiding transportation of aphid infested leaves from one location to another
• Avoiding use of infested cane for seed purpose
• Ensuring that the insecticides treated leaves are not used as fodder
• Spray any one of the following insecticides once or twice in affected patches: 
  • acephate 75 SP @2gm/lit
  • chlorpyrifos 25 EC @2ml/lit