Lecture No.

16
PESTS OF MANGO
I. MANGO
There are number of insect pests of this fruit and over 175 species of insect have been
reported damaging mango tree but the most abundant and destructive at the flowering stage
are the mango hoppers. Also mango mealy bug in North India, stem borer, fruit fly, mango nut
weevil and caterpillar pests plat a major role in bringing down the yield. It is almost necessary
to control these pests otherwise there is a heavy fruit drop and the trees may remain without
fruit.
Major pests
1. Mango hoppers Idioscopus niveosparsus, Cicadellidae Hemiptera
I. clypealis,
Amritodus atkinsoni
2. Stemborer Batocera rufomaculata Cerambycidae Coleoptera
3. Fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis Tephritidae Diptera
4. Mango nut weevil Sternochaetus mangiferae Curculionidae Coleoptera
5. Mango mealy bug Drosicha mangiferae
6. Bark eating Indarbela tetraonis, Metarbelidae Lepidoptera
caterpillar I. quadrinotata
7. Flower gall midge Procystiphora mangiferae, Cecidomyiidae Diptera
Erosomyia indica, Dasineura
amaramanjarae
8. Mango leaf webber Orthaga exvinacea Noctuidae Lepidoptera
9. Shoot borer Clumetia transversa Noctuidae Lepidoptera
10. Leaf caterpillar Bombotelia jacosatrix Noctuidae Lepidoptera
11. Flower webber Eublemma versicolor Noctuidae Lepidoptera
Minor pests
12. Leaf caterpillar Euthalia garuda Nymphalidae Lepidoptera
13. Leaf miner Acrocercops syngramma Gracillariidae Lepidoptera
14. Leaf twisting weevil Apoderus transquebarius Curculionidae Coleoptera
15. Red ant Oecophylla smaragdina Formicidae Hymenoptera
16. Eriophyid mite Aceria mangiferae Eriophyidae Acarina

1. Mango hoppers: Idioscopus niveosparus, I. clypealis, Amritodus atkinsoni

(Cicadellidae : Hemiptera)
Distribution and status
India, Indonesia, Formosa, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Srilanka, Burma, Pakistan,
Bangladesh and Malaysia. Major pest prevalent in the flowering season and devastating in all
mango growing areas.
Host range: Mango



Damage symptoms

Both nymphs and adults suck the sap from tender shoots and inflorescence resulting in
withering and shedding of flower buds and also wilting and drying of shoots and leaves.

The flower stalks and leaves in infested trees become sticky due to the deposition of
honey-dew secreted by the hoppers that encourages the growth of black sooty mould
on foliage and other parts.

The hoppers take shelter in cracks and crevices on the bark during non-flowering
season.

Bionomics
Eggs are laid in single into the tissues of the young leaves, shoots, flower stalk and
unopened flowers. Incubation period: 4-7 days. Nymphal period: 8-13 days, 5 instars. Life
cycle completed in 2-3 weeks.
I. niveosparsus I. clypealis A. atkinsoni
Three spots on scutellum Two spots on scutellum Two spots on scutellum
and white band across the and dark spot on the
wing vertex

IPM
• Avoid close planting, as the incidence very severe in overcrowded orchards
• Orchards must be kept clean by ploughing and removal of weeds
• Pruning of dense canopy to facilitate aeration and sunlight
• Avoid excess use of nitrogenous fertilizers
• Spray dimethoate 30 EC or moncrotophos 36 SL 2.5-3.3 L , methyldemeton 25 EC or
malathion 50 EC 1.5 -2.0 L in 1500 – 2000 L of water per ha or acephate 75 SP @ 1
g/L, phosalone 35 EC @1.5 ml/L, or new molecules like buprofezin 25 SC 1-2ml/L of
water or imidacloprid 17.8 SL 2-4ml/tree or lambda cyhalothrin 5 EC 0.5-1.0ml/L of
water at 10 -15 L of water per tree
• Neem oil 5 ml/lit of water can be mixed with any insecticide for spray
• Spray 3 per cent neem oil or neem seed kernel powder extract 5 per cent

2. Stemborer: Batocera rufomaculata (Cerambycidae : Coleoptera)

Distribution and Status: India, Bangladesh
Host range
Mango, rubber, jack-fruit, fig, papaya, apple, eucalyptus and mulberry, morings and silk
cotton.
Damage symptoms
The grubs feed by tunneling the bark of branches and main stem. Shedding of leaves
and drying of terminal shoots takes place in early stage of attack while damage to main stem
causes tree death.



Bionomics
Eggs laid singly on the bark or cracks and crevices on the tree trunk or branches.
Incubation period: 1-2 weeks. Grubs yellow, grub period 6 months, and pupal period is 19-36
days. Adults grey with two pink dots and lateral spine on the thorax with a longevity of 6
months.
Management
i. Grow tolerant mango varieties viz., Neelam, Humayudin
ii. Remove and destroy dead and severely affected branches of the tree
iii. Avoid injury at the base of trunk while pruning
iv. Remove alternative hosts like moringa, silk cotton in the near vicinity.
v. During off-season, apply absorbent cotton soaked in 10 ml monocrotophos 36 SL per
tree by padding without unnecessarily injuring the trunk.
vi. Use a needle or long wire to pull out the grubs from the bore holes. The bore holes
may be filled with DDVP @ 5 ml or monocrotophos 36 WSC 10 to 20 ml or one
celphos tablet (3 g aluminum phosphide) or apply carbofuran 3G 5 g per hole and plug
with clay + copper oxychloride paste.
vii. Swab Coal tar + Kerosene @ 1:2 or Carbaryl 50 WP 20 g / L (basal portion of the trunk
- 3 feet height) after scraping the loose bark to prevent oviposition by adult beetles.

3. Fruit fly: Bactrocera dorsalis (Tephritidae: Diptera)

Distribution and Status
India, Pakistan, South-East Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Formosa, Philippines, Australia,
China, Hawaii Islands, China and Taiwan.

Host range
Mango, guava, peach, apricot, cherry, pear, ber, citrus, banana, papaya, avocado,
passion fruit, coffee, melons, jack fruit, strawberry.
Damage symptoms
The maggots destroy and convert the pulp into bad smelling, discoloured semi liquid
mass unfit for human consumption. Infestation results in fruit drop and liquid oozes out from
the fruit upon pressing.
Bionomics
The adult fly is brown or drak brown with hyaline wings and yellow legs. Adult lays up to
200 eggs in a month in clusters of 2-15 just beneath the skin of the ripening fruits. The egg
period is 22-23 days. The maggot feeds on pulp and become full grown in about 7 days. It
pupates 3-7 inches below the soil.

Management
i. Row interspaces may be ploughed to expose and kill the soil borne puparia.
ii. The infested and fallen fruits should be carefully disposed of.



 iii. Apply a bait-spray of malathion 50 EC @ 2 ml/ L with molasses or jaggery (10 g/L)
before ripening.
iv. Male annihilation technique: Set up fly trap using methyl eugenol. Prepare methyl
eugenol 1 ml/L of water + 1 ml of malathion solution. Take 10 ml of this mixture per trap
and keep them at 25 different places in one ha between 6 and 8 am. Collect and
destroy the adult flies.

4. Mango nut weevil: Sternochaetus mangiferae (Curculionidae: Coleoptera)

Distribution and Status
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Burma, Malaysia, South
Vietnam, Philippines, East Australia, Africa and Hawaii.
Host range: Mango
Damage symptoms
The grub tunnels in a zig-zag manner through the pulp endocarp, seed coat and finally
reaches the cotyledons and destroys them. As the fruit develops the tunnel get closed. The
adults that emerge from the pupae also feed on the developing seed and hasten the maturity
of infested fruit.

Bionomics
Adult lay eggs singly on the marble sized fruits by scooping out the surface tissue and
covering over with transparent secretion. Egg period - 7 days, grub period - 20-30 days yellow
creamy grub apodous with five larval instars. Pupation occurs inside the nut along the
concave side; pupal period 7 days. Adults stout, 6 mm long, dark brown in colour. Life cycle
completed in 40-50 days.

IPM
• Under-sized fruits left on the tree should be picked and destroyed.
• Undertake general cleanliness and destruction of the weevils on the bark during August
If the trees are few, bag the fruits with cloth or try paper bags for protection.
• Collect and destroy the fallen fruits and stones
• Spray application of malathion 50 EC 1ml/L; Carbaryl 3-4 kg (4 g/L of water) or
Quinalphos 3- 4 L (2 ml/L of water) in 1500-2000 L water per ha in Sept-Oct on the
tree first at marble stage of the fruit second at 15 days interval.
• During non flowering season direct spray towards the base of the trunk.
• The infested bark should be washed with kerosene emulsion.
• Spray deltamethrin spray 1.5 - 2.0 L (1 ml/L of water) in 1500-2000 L water per ha after
six weeks of fruit set.



5. Mango mealy bug: Drosicha mangiferae (Pseudococcidae: Hemiptera)
Distribution and Status
India, Bangladesh, China and South East Asia
Host range
Mango, apple, apricot, ber, cherry, Citrus spp., fig, grape vine, guava, jack, jamun,
litchi, mulberry and pomegranate.
Damage symptoms
Damages caused by nymphs and wingless females. They infest the leaves and
inflorescence. Nymphs climb up the tree congregate together and suck juice from young
shoots, panicles and flower pedicels. The affected parts dry up and yield is reduced
substantially.
Bionomics
Oval, shining pink eggs laid in the soil upto 15 cm. Egg hatching starts at the end of
December and continues upto month. First instar nymphs climb and ascend the trees
immediately. They pass 3 nymphal instars. Adult longetivity for male and female are 7 and
15-35 days respectively. Female lays eggs for 22-47 days during april-may. Adults are oval,
flat, body covered with white mealy powder. Males have one pair of black wings and are
crimson red.
IPM
• Remove weeds like Clerodendrum inflortunatum and grasses by ploughing during
June-July.
• Plough orchards during summer to expose the eggs to natural enemies and extreme
heat.
• Band the trees with 20 cm wide alkalthene of polythene (400 gauge) in the middle of
December (50 cm above the ground level and just below the junction of
branching).Tie stem with jute thread and apply a little mud of fruit tree grease on the
lower edge of the band.
• Release Australian ladybird beetle, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri @ 10/tree
• If necessary spray dimethoate 30 EC or moncrotophos 36 SL 2.5-3.3L ,
methyldemeton 25 EC or malathion 50 EC 1.5 -2.0 L or chlorpryriphos 20 EC 3.0 –
4.0 L or methyl parathion 50 EC 1.5 – 2.0 L in 1500 – 2000 L water per ha
• Once the pest reaches the top of the plant, control becomes rather difficult.

6. Bark eating caterpillar: Indarbela tetraonis, I. quadrinotata (Metarbelidae:

Lepidoptera)
Distribution and status: Throughout India, Burma, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka potential
major pest.
Host range: Mango, guava, zizyphus, litchi, orange, pomegranate, bauhinia, loquat,
mulberry, moringa, rose, guava and eugenia.



Damage symptoms
Young trees succumb to the attack. Caterpillars bore into the trunk or junction of
branches make zig zag galleries Presence of gallery made out of silk and frass is the key
symptom. They remain hidden in the tunnel during day time, come out at night and feed on
the bark. Under severe infestation, flow of sap is hindered, plant growth arrested and fruit
formation is drastically reduced.
Bionomics
Adults emerge in summer and lays 15-25 eggs in clusters under loose bark of the
trees. Eggs hatch in 8-10 days. Larvae makes webs and feeds making zig zag galleries on
the wood filled with frass and excreta and later bores inside the wood. Larval period is 9 -11
months and then pupates inside the stem. Pupal stage is 3-4 months.
Management
• Kill the caterpillars by inserting an iron spike into the tunnels.
• Injecting ethylene glycol and kerosene oil in the ratio of 1:3 into the tunnel by means of
a syringe and then seal the opening of the tunnel with mud.
• Dip a small piece of cotton in any of the fumigants, like chloroform or petrol or
kerosene, introduce into the tunnel and seal the opening with clay or mud.

7. Flower gall midge: Procystiphora mangiferae, Erosomyia indica, Dasineura

amaramanjarae (Cecidomyiidae: Diptera)
Distribution and status: Distributed throughout India
Host range: Mango
a. Procystiphora mangiferae
Damage symptoms
The maggot feeds on stalks of stamen, anthers, ovary.
Bionomics
The adult fly is light orange in colour. It lays eggs inside the flower buds. The maggots
pupates inside the bud itself. The life cycle is completed in 12- 24 days.
b. Erosomyia indica
Damage symptoms
Maggots attack the inflorescence stalk, flower buds and small developing fruits.
Inflorescence is stunted and malformed and buds do not open.
Bionomics
Adult fly is yellowish and lays eggs on the inflorescence peduncle or base of the
developing fruit. Pupation occurs in soil.
c. Dasineura amaramanjarae
Damage symptoms
Maggots feed inside buds and the buds fail to open and drop down.
Bionomics
Maggots hibernate in soil and carry over to the next year and when favourable



condition occurs pupate and emerge as adults.
Management
Spray dimethoate 30 EC or methyl demeton 25 EC 3.0 - 4.0 L in 1500-2000 L of water
per ha (10-15 L of spray fluid per tree)
8. Flower webber: Eublemma versicolor (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera)
Distribution and status: widely distributed in India.
Host range Mango
Damage symptoms
Flowers in the inflorescence are webbed together by the larvae, hich remain inside the
silk lined gallery and feed. They also bore into the inflorescence stalk.
Bionomics
Female has purplish pink or light orange wings with an apical patch. Adult lays 8 -10
reddish hemispherical eggs on sepals and the incubation period is 3-4 days. Larva is smooth,
greenish yellow with light brown head and prothoracic shield.
Management
Spray phosalone 35 EC 3.0 - 4.0 L or carbaryl 50 WP 3.0 kg in 1500-2000 L of water
per ha (10-15 L of spray fluid per tree)
9. Mango leaf webber: Orthaga exvinacea (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera)
Distribution and status: Common in South India.
Host range: Mango
Damage symptoms
Larvae web up leaves into clusters and feed within. Leaves surface are scraped and
they wither and dry up.

Bionomics
Moth is grayish with brownish wings and has wavy lines on fore wings. Adults lays upto
30 50 yellowish green eggs singly near the leaf veins. Egg period is 4 days. Caterpillar pale
greenish with brown head and prothoracic shield. Pupation occurs in leaf web. Adult emerges
in 11- 14 days.
Management
Remove and destroy the webbed leaves along with larvae and pupae
Spray carbaryl 50 WP at 2.0 L
Conserve predators like carabid beetle Parena lacticincta, reduvid Oecama sp, parasitoid
Hormiusa and fungus Paecilomyces farinosus.

10. Leaf caterpillar: Bombotelia jacosatrix (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera)

Larvae feeds on tender leaves causing defoliation. Larva is smooth with pink spots on
the body. Pupation takes place in soil and adult moth is dark brown with lower half of the hind
wings white.
11. Leaf caterpillar: Euthalia garuda (Nymphalidae : Lepidoptera)



Damage symptoms: The caterpillar feeds on leaves
Bionomics: The adult butterfly is brownish black with white spots on wings. Caterpillar with a
light green mid dorsal line has the colour of lead and is not easily detected. It easily
camouflages in the mango leaf.

12. Leaf miner: Acrocercops syngramma (Gracillariidae : Lepidoptera)

Infests tender leaves and produces blister like patches. Adult moth is silvery grey moth
with fringes of hairs on the wing margin. The larva is reddish brown in colour.
13. Leaf twisting weevil: Apoderus transquebarius (Curculionidae: Coleoptera)

It is active from May to October. Grub cuts across a leaf from margin to midrib near base.
Leaf is then folded longitudinally from tip downwards and a compact thimble-shaped structure
is formed. Roll gradually starts drying and ultimately fall down along with pupa. Adults are
reddish-brown weevil with head drawn anteriorly into a long snout and posteriorly into neck.
Adults come out by making a small hole in dried, rolled mass of leaf. Eggs are oval in shape
and yellow in colour. Grubs are apodous and pale-yellow in colour, while pupae are bright
yellow.

14. Shoot borer: Chlumetia transversa (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera)

Damage symptoms
Neonate caterpillars bore into mid ribs of tender leaves, come out and bore into
tender shoots near the growing point tunnelling downwards, throwing excreta through
entrance hole. Leaves of affected shoots whither and droop down.
Bionomics
Adult moths are stout with green forewings. Young caterpillars are yellowish orange
with dark brown prothoracic shield. Full grown caterpillars (20-24mm) are dark pink with dirty
spots
Management
• Clip off and destroy affected shoots in initial stage of attack.
• In case of severe attack spray carbaryl two times at three weeks interval commencing
from initiation of new flush of leaves
14. Red ant: Oecophylla smaragdina (Formicidae:Hymenoptera)
15. Eriophyid mite: Aceria mangiferae (Eriophyidae :Acari)
Distributed in India, Pakistan and USA and associated with malformation disease of mango.
Mite sucks the sap from internal and auxiliary buds resulting in the stoppage of growth and
development of close lateral buds, resulting in the buds becoming crowded and malformed
and necrosis of tender tissues.



Question paper on Mango and Citrus
1. -----------------is a monophagous pest on mango is Stone weevil, Mango hopper

2. ----------- feeds on mango inflorescence during flowering season -Mango hopper

3. Mango fruit become marble sized due to attack of ---------- Stone weevil

4. ----------------- is the scientific name of mango mealy bug -Drosicha mangifera

5. --------------- is the scientific name of mango leaf twisting weevil - Apoderus

tranquebarious

6. Citurs can be covered with prerforated polythene bag to control the incidence of ---------
Fruit sucking moth

7. Larvae feed their own exuviae after each molting in the case of ------------- Citrus
butterfly
8. Scientific name of citrus leaf mite is---------------- Eutetranechus orientalis

9. Scientific name of citrus leaf roller is----------------- Psorostichya zizyphi

10. Male annihilation technique is used to control _________________- Fruit fly

11. The chemical used in male annihilation technique is ___________- Methyl eugenol

12. Breeding weed host of fruit piercing moth- Tinospora cordifolia

13. Site of oviposition for mealy bug is-------------

a. On the leaf b. On twig

c. In soil d. On fruit

14. Severe infestation results in mango fruit drop and liquid oozes out upon pressing

a. Batocera rufomaculata b. Sternocheatus mangiferae

c. Bactrocera dorsalis d. Procystiphora mangifera

15. ---------------- causes irritation during harvest and is a nuisance in mango orchards

a. Red tree ant b. Leaf twisting weevil

c. Black ant d. Leaf webber

16. Citrus butterfly belongs to family

a. Nymphalidae b. Papilionidae

c. Lycaenidae d. None of the above

17. Ring like scarred area encircling the citrus stalk and irregular mottled patches on rind is
symptom of

a. Thrips b. Whitefly

c. Aphids d. Scale

18. Citrus leaf miner belongs to family



 a. Agromycidae b. Gracillariidae

c. Galuricidae d. Gelichidae