Pesticide Use in Mango IPM Next

Background Quite often the cultural, physical, mechanical and other agro-technology practices are not sufficient to keep the insect pests below the level of economic losses. Therefore, the chemical pesticides are resorted to both as preventive and curative measures to minimize the insect pest damage. But chemical spray is to be minimized and should be need based. A rational rotation of insecticide is desirable to counteract the tendency of pest to develop field resistance. End Previous Next

More than 492 insect species are known to infest mango and out of these approximately 45 per cent reported from India . Among these 45 per cent, about a dozen are found more severe causing considerable loss to the crop and so may be known as major pests of mango. These are Mango hoppers, mealy bugs, stem borer, fruit fly, stone weevil, scale insect, leaf Webber, leaf miner, and leaf eating caterpillars are some of the important yield reducing insect pests of mango. Several insecticides either alone or in combination with other pest management techniques have been found effective for the control of these insect pests. End Previous Next

Mango Hopper Need based application of methyl parathion (0.025%), monocrotophos (0.025%), fenitrothion (0.25%) or carbaryl (0.1%) with higher volume sprayer @ 10 l/tree significantly reduced the hopper population First spray at early stage of panicle formation if hopper population is more than 5-10 panicle Second spray at full length stage of panicle, and the third spray after fruit setting successfully controls mango hoppers. End Previous Next

Mealy Bug Raking of the soil around the base of the tree which has been infested, so that the egg-masses exposed and application of chlorpyriphos 0.05% in the same area when hatching begins or is expected, so that the just-hatched nymphs may be poisoned. ‘ If nymphs ascend ascended on tree spray Monocrotophos or Dimethoate (0.04%) Spray of either of these insecticides at bud burst stage reduces gall midge damage. End Previous Next

Fruit flies To control adult fruit flies during severe infestation placing poison bait viz., protein hydrolysate + malathion 50 ml + 200 ml molasses in 2 litres of water be sprayed adding an additional 18 liters of water to bait poison, commencing at pre-oviposition period and repeat at 15 days interval. Three weeks before harvesting, spray Deltamethrin 2.8 EC @ 0.5 ml/l + Azadiractin (3000 ppm) or 2 ml/liter. End Previous Next

Two to three sprays at fortnightly intervals commencing from last week of July with monocrotophos (0.05%) or quinalphos (0.05%) controls leaf webber. This spay will also take care of mango psylla. Spray monocrotophos 2 times (0.04%) or dimethoate (0.06%) at 21 days interval for the control of scale insect. Spray quinalphos (0.05%) or monocrotophos (0.5%) from the emergence of new flush for the control of leaf miner. End Previous Next

Stem borer, bark eating caterpillar and shoot borer For the control of stem borer and bark eating caterpillar, clean hole and insert cotton wool soaked in emulsion of monocrotophos (0.05%) or kerosene or petrol in each hole and plug them with mud or drench stem thoroughly with monocrotophos (0.05%), if the incidence is high. Spray of monocrotophos or quinalphos (0.05%) at fortnightly interval from the commencement of new flush controls shoot borer. End Previous Next

Stone weevil and fruit borer Spray dimethoate (0.1%) twice at 15 days interval when fruits are of marble size. Spray main trunk, primary branches and junction of branches prior to flowing (November, December) with monocrotophos @ 2.5 ml to control stone weevils hiding in the bark. Spray acephate 75 SP @ 1.5 g/l when fruits are of lime size followed by deltamethrin 2.8 EC @ 1ml/l after two or three weeks. Spray monocrotophos 1.5 ml/l at marble size onwards for the control of fruit borer, and repeat with deltamethrin 28 EC @ 1ml/l after two weeks in case of heavy infection. End Previous Next

Termites Remove the mud galleris on trunk and spray the trunk with Malathion (1.5 ml/l, and drench the soil at the base of the tree with monocrotophos (1ml/l) after two month for the control of termites. End Previous Next

Summary Monocrotophos, malathion, dimethoate, quinalphos, deltamethrin, acephate, imidacloprid, and lambda cyhalothrin are some of the commonly used insecticides used for the management of insect pests in mango. Insecticide spray should be avoided fortnight before fruit harvest. Repeated application of same insecticide should be avoided. Use recommended dose of insecticide for effective management of the target pest. End Previous