Skip to main content

TOP 10 COMMON INSECT PESTS OF FRUIT CROPS

 TOP 10 COMMON INSECT PESTS OF FRUIT CROPS

     Author -Naga spurthi. A

  • INTRODUCTION

Insects are the most diverse and most adaptable form of life in the animal category. Herbivorous insects cause damage to nearly one-fifth of crop annual production. The following information gives you the basic knowledge of the identification of insects in a fruit orchard. 

  1. APHIDS

                  

These are commonly called plant lice which belong to the family Aphididae of order Hemiptera. They attack a wide range of plants. They suck the sap and attract the fungus like sooty moulds and also carry various viruses . They attack new growth and multiply. We can control by spraying with soapy water and many insecticides are available to defeat this Aphids 

    2.THRIPS

                

 These are tiny slender insects that belong to order Thysanoptera having fringed wings covered with hairs. They feed on young leaves leaving a silver color mark. They also transfer various diseases.

3.Fruit flies

             

These are tiny oval flies having an appearance belonging to order Diptera. Also termed as vinegar flies.  They cause severe damage to ripening fruits and feed on flesh which results in yield reduction.  They can be wiped off by introducing the insect eating birds.

4.CAPSID BUGS

        

These are green or brown coloured bugs belonging to order Hemiptera. Mostly they will attack fruits and nuts , they will feed on fruit flesh and leaf sap. Wounds will attract fungus and eventually turn brown.

     5.MEALYBUGS

          

 It is a sucking oval pest belong to order Hemiptera.white, cottony egg masses on plants, wax-covered plants, sticky honeydew, black sooty mold growing on top of honeydew or ants feeding on honeydew.control mealybugs naturally with beneficial insects, insecticidal soaps, and other natural techniques.

     6.BEETLES

               

These are insects belong to coleoptera having a shiny exoskeleton , elytra type of wings and fossorial type of legs.Faeces and shed skin are the symptoms found on fruits.Avoid pruning when beetles are known to be in the area and also cut down affected trees and shrubs.

   7. WASPS

             

These are narrow-waisted and belong to order Hymenoptera. They usually ripe fruits and either enlarge any existing small holes or bite an entry to reach the sweet fruit fresh.  This damage  can attract fungal diseases and other problems. Wasps are considered as a pest problem around the orchards during fruit ripening and can be eliminated by spraying JET sprays

   8.WHITEFLIES

            

These are tiny yellowish and white wax covered around wings and body ,belonging to order .Serious pest in sweet potato. They are found mostly on the undersides of leaves. Large numbers that cause severe damage may result from honeydew and sooty mold. Neem oil can be applied and also available pesticides application is necessary.

   9. WEEVILS

      

These insects belong to the order coleoptera of family Curculionidae.  Mostly brown or gray coloured species while the majority of weevils feed exclusively on plants.Weevils have probably been successful because of the development of the snout, which is used not only for penetration and feeding but also for boring holes in which to lay eggs. Major symptom is "shot hole" appearance in kernels. Soapy water and white vinegar are best to control them.

   10.SAWFLIES

            

These belong to order Hymenoptera. These are the Larvae of small insects and can cause extensive damage. Apple sawfly larvae bore into fruits such as apples and leaf trails of their passage across the en fruits. They also create an unpleasant smell on the damaged fruits. Gooseberry ,pear ,and cherry sawflies attack leaves and cause serious stunts in plant's growth.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Peach (Prunus persica) is a temperate fruit rich in proteins, sugar, minerals and vitamins. Introduction of the cultivated peaches probably took place in the latter half of the 19th century. Today, it is being grown in the midhill zone of the Himalayas extending from Jammu and Kashmir to Khasi hills 1,000–2,000m above mean sea-level. Low-chilling peaches are grown in submountaineous region and Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh. It is also being grown to a limited scale in the hills of south India and in the north-eastern region of the country. Climate and Soil Peaches require humid climate with cold winter and dry summer. It is moderately winter hardy and sensitive to low temperature injury. Swelling buds are injured at –6.5°C. Sites which are free from early spring frost are more suitable as peaches bloom early in the season. The blooming period can be delayed by the application of Gibberellic acid (200ppm) before leaf fall or by application of Ethephon, to avoid th...
Post a Comment
Read more

POMEGRANATE INSECT PESTS AND DISEASES author:- swaroopa.v

pomegranate insect pests Article by:- swaroopa.v Anar butterfly/ Pomegranate fruit borer:- scientific name:- Virachola isocrates , Deudorix isocrates Family:-Lycaenidae order:-Lepidoptera Damage symptoms:- 👉Caterpillar bores into young fruits. 👉Feeds on internal contents (pulp and seeds). 👉Fruit rotting and dropping may occur. Fruit sucking Moth:- Scientific Name:- Othreis fullonica , Othreis materna Family:-Noctuidae Order:-Lepidoptera Damage symptoms:- 👉A circular pinhole like spot appears at the feeding site. 👉Later on, the area around the damaged portion turns yellowish-brown. 👉 The punctured fruits are easily infected with bacteria and fungi. As a result, the fruit rot and falls prematurely.  Diseases:- 1.Bacterial leaf and  fruit spot :- Disease symptoms:- 👉 appearance of one to several small water soaked,dark coloured irregular spots on leaves resulting in premature defoliation under severe cases. 👉 The pathogen also infects stem and br...
Post a Comment
Read more
Mahua Mahua (Bassia latifolia), is an indigenous tree of high economic value. A characteristic tree of the dry region, it is found in north and central India. It commonly grows in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. The tree is very well known to rural folk since ages in India. Its flowers, fruits, and oil obtained from seeds are eaten in various ways. The ‘corolla’ commonly called mahua flowers, are a rich source of sugar containing appreciable amount of vitamins and minerals. Fruit, a berry, is eaten as raw or cooked. Pulp is a good source of sugar, whereas dry husk makes a good source of absolute alcohol. Seed is a good source of oil. The linoleic, a major unsaturated fatty acid found in mahua oil, is used in reducing the cholesterol content in blood serum, making its oil quite useful for heart patients. Climate and soil Mahua prefers tropical and subtropical climate. It can withstand drought admirably. The trees of Ba...
8 comments
Read more