Invasive Insect Pest Threats to Indian Agriculture: Present status, Challenges and Way Forward$

Abstract

Alien invasive insect pests are of great concern to countries in terms of affecting food supplies, disturbing ecosystem functions, posing risk to human health to economic losses. Due to globalization and free trade policies, the occurrence of invasive insect pests in any countries are imminent. India has witnessed entry and establishment of about 10 invasive insect pests during 1889 to 1989 (100 years), while during last 10 years (2013 to 2023) we have recorded entry and establishment of more than 15 insect pests posing potential threat to the Indian agriculture. As the introduced invasive insect pests dispersed beyond their native location seldom escape from predators, parasitoids and pathogens lead to havoc if proper management options are not taken in time in the introduced countries. Incursions of alien invasive insect pests have been a regular phenomenon in India, despite the fact that a robust regulatory mechanism is in place. It is quite difficult to pin-point the pathways of entry, since India shares porous borders with many neighbouring countries. Incursions of insect pests such as Cassava Mealybug, Fall armyworm, Rugose Spiralling Whitefly, South American Tomato Pinworm, Papaya Mealybug, Coconut Eriophyid Mite, Eucalyptus Gall Wasp, Erythrina Gall Wasp, Coffee Berry Borer, Spiralling Whitefly, Serpentine Leaf Miner etc., have caused severe economic losses to various crops in India. Recently, few more pest alerts, i.e., Apple leaf blotch miner, Leucoptera malifoliella (Costa) (Lyonetiidae: Lepidoptera) in Apple from Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory and Mango soft scale, Fistulococcus pokfulamensis Hodgson and Martin (Coccidae: Hemiptera) in Mango from Karnataka have been issued as new insect pest incursions. India being a farming country cannot afford to have frequent invasion of exotic pests. Different agro-climatic conditions and diversity of crops grown in the country favours the establishment of pests across groups. The present paper critically reviews, the invasive insect pest problems, threats caused by invasives, the common pathways of entry of the invasive insects, regulatory mechanisms in place and way forwards to safeguard agriculture in India.