Scale insect: Melanaspis glomerata

Symptoms of damage:

• Dark encrustations on the internode

 Identification of the pest:

• Nymph: Females multiply ovo-viviparously. The nymphs that hatch out from the eggs within the female’s body come out through the genital aperture. They are called ‘crawlers’. They settle after selecting suitable site for feeding
• Adult: Greyish black or brown circular scales, they cover the nodal region forming a thick encrustation

 Management:

• Select scale insect free setts
• Bunds free from weeds
• Avoid repeated ratoons
• Detrash 150-210 DAS
• Drain excess water
• Presoak the setts in 0.1% malathion solution
• Spray of the following insecticides(120/150 day after detrashing)
  • Dimethoate 30 EC @2ml/lit of water  
  • methyldemeton 25 EC @2ml/lit of water