Pest Management
PEST MANAGEMENT IN TREE CROPS
PUNGAM

Leaf gall mite Aceria pongamiae
Biology

  • New flush appear during summer which coincide with the initiation of infestation in which the mites multiply its population on pungam
  • Adult mites prefer young leaves for egg laying and the newly hatched nymphs, made injury on leaf surface resulting in formation of pouch galls and disfiguring the structure of leaves
  • Multiplication takes place favorably in hot weather conditions

Nature of damage

  • Galls formed were solitary, elongate and pouch like with truncate apices on the upper surface of the leaves
  • Galls were indeterminate, green coloured, glabrous and hollow inside, provided with a minute escape hole or ostiole and were often twisted and curved
  • Galls were found on the leaf lamina, secondary veins, midrib and on tender terminal shoots
  • Mite infestation drastically affects the photosynthetic activity of the plant, in turn leading to a reduction of biomass

Management

  • Clipping of affected leaves
Application of acaricides like Fenazaquin or propargite @ 1 ml / lit of water during new flush formation in summer

 

 

 

Gall midge

 


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