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.