Tea mosquito bug destroys Cashew crop
- Category
Science & Technology
- Published
4th May, 2022
-
Context
Tea mosquito bugs have attacked acres of cashew crops in Odisha.
About
Tea Mosquito Bug:
- Scientific Name: Helopeltis antonii
- Tea mosquito bug is a major pest of cashew causing severe damage in several parts of the world.
- Among the four species attacking cashew, H. antonii is the dominant species.
- The pest has got potential to cause as high as cent per cent loss in yield.
- Season of occurrence:
- In general, TMB activity is very less during monsoon period (June- September) and the pest build up commences during October- November synchronizing with the emergence of new flushes after the cessation of monsoon rains.
- The population reaches a peak during December-January, when the trees are in full bloom while, the pest activity is seen till May unitl harvest.
- But, the pest incidence may be noticed throughout the year in young plantations.

Management
- Undertake pruning to regulate the shade to facilitate proper penetration of sunlight inside the canopy.
- Spray the following insecticides, thoroughly covering foliage and bark during early morning hours.
- Monocrotophos at new flush formation.
- Spray endosulfan or carbaryl in 1500-2000 L of water per ha and Urea 3% at flower initiation and again at fruiting time
- Do not interplant cashew with crops that are host for Helopeltis bugs, such as cotton, tea, sweet potato, guava and mango.