Mealy bug: An emerging threat for horticultural crop

Abstract

Since last few years, mealy bug has acquired position of major insect pest of many horticultural crops which was earlier considered as minor one. It is a polyphagous pest. The body of insect is oval shaped, soft and covered with wax. Nymph and adult female cause damage by sucking cell sap. Affected leaves turn yellow and gradually dry. It also excretes honeydew on which black sooty mold develops, resulting in decreased efficiency of photosynthesis. Some species are vector of plant diseases. Overall, it affects both quantity and quality of the products. Repeated use of chemical insecticides can only control insect up to some extent. Hence, the cultural control like water spray,
judicious use of nitrogen application, soil raking, destruction of infected plant parts and banding of tree trunk etc. are the efficient way to manage the mealy bug.