Insect Pest os Aonla in Hot Arid Region

Aonla mealy bug (Nipaecoccus viridis)

• Found in several countries in the Afro-tropical, Asian (including Hawaiian islands), Oriental and Palearctic regions.

Host Range

• It is highly polyphagous pest in India. It mainly infects aonla, citrus, cotton, jute etc

Nature of Damage

• Primarily occurring on foliage and fruit of host.
• The attacked new shoots are found bending and twisting with yellowing of leaves.

• In case of severe infestation, twigs become leafless and dry.
• Excessive excretion of honeydew is noticed.
• Flowers dry up and drop

Description

• Body round or broadly oval; somewhat flattened dorso-ventrally; purple or blue green; covered by thick white, creamy, or pale yellow wax.
• Ovisac covering dorsum; probably with 5 or 6 pairs of lateral wax filaments.

• Apparently oviparous, eggs purple.
• Dorsum probably with waxy filaments.
• Ventral multilocular pores usually on all abdominal segments and on head.

Source: Insect Pest of Arid Fruit Crops

IPM for Amla

To know the IPM practices for Amla, click here.