Physical and Mechanical Practices Physical and Mechanical Practices in Mango IPMin Mango IPM

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BackgroundBackground

The insect populations too are generally controlled by hand The insect populations too are generally controlled by hand picking, exclusion by barriers, trapping, suction devices, picking, exclusion by barriers, trapping, suction devices, clipping, pruning, or crushing. clipping, pruning, or crushing.

Mango is damaged by several insect pests viz., mango Mango is damaged by several insect pests viz., mango hoppers, mealy bugs, termites, stem borer, fruit fly, stone hoppers, mealy bugs, termites, stem borer, fruit fly, stone weevil, scale, leaf Webber, leaf miner, and leaf eating weevil, scale, leaf Webber, leaf miner, and leaf eating caterpillars. caterpillars.

Several physical and mechanical practices have been found Several physical and mechanical practices have been found effective in reducing the insect pests damage and further effective in reducing the insect pests damage and further population buildup in mango orchardspopulation buildup in mango orchards..

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Mealy BugsMealy BugsAlkathene sheets (400 gauges) of 25 cm Alkathene sheets (400 gauges) of 25 cm width fastened around the tree trunk after width fastened around the tree trunk after mud plastering about 30 cm above mud plastering about 30 cm above ground level. with the help of sutli have ground level. with the help of sutli have been found effective barrier to stop the been found effective barrier to stop the ascent of nymphs of mealy bug to the ascent of nymphs of mealy bug to the trees. trees.

Grease should be applied at the lower Grease should be applied at the lower edge of the bandedge of the band

The band should be fastened well in The band should be fastened well in advance before the hatching of eggs of advance before the hatching of eggs of mealy bug, i.e., around November – mealy bug, i.e., around November – December.December.

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Stone WeevilStone Weevil

Collection and destruction Collection and destruction of infested and fallen fruits of infested and fallen fruits at weekly interval till fruit at weekly interval till fruit harvest, destruction of left harvest, destruction of left over seeds in the orchard, over seeds in the orchard, and irradiation of fruits with and irradiation of fruits with 0.25-0.75 KGY control 0.25-0.75 KGY control stone weevil and fruit borer. stone weevil and fruit borer.

Destroy the adults in bark Destroy the adults in bark crevices before the trees crevices before the trees come to flowering. come to flowering.

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Fruit FliesFruit FliesHarvest crops early when mature green. Harvest crops early when mature green. As this stage of fruit maturity, crops are As this stage of fruit maturity, crops are not susceptible to fruit fly attack. not susceptible to fruit fly attack.

Pick overripe fruits as these are good Pick overripe fruits as these are good breeding sites for fruit flies. breeding sites for fruit flies.

Collect fallen infested rotten fruits and Collect fallen infested rotten fruits and also remove fruits with ovipunctures and also remove fruits with ovipunctures and oozing clear sap from the trees if visible. oozing clear sap from the trees if visible.

Distroy these collected fruits by dumping Distroy these collected fruits by dumping in a pit (40-60 cm deep) and cover with in a pit (40-60 cm deep) and cover with soil to eliminate all sources of possible soil to eliminate all sources of possible breeding sites. breeding sites.

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Fruit Flies

Physical MethodCurative: Pheromone trapsMethyl eugenol sex lure traps capture male flies. Set up methyl eugenol trap in the orchard @ 10/h.– Traps with pheromone + baits are used to monitor and to lessen the

population density of fruit flies infesting the fruits in the orchard @10/h

Fruit fly plastic bottle trap (April-June)– Materials Required and Procedure:– Plastic bottle, 4-6 mm iron rod, string and pheromone – Heat the iron rod. Make a hole on the base, big enough for the string or

wire to pass through. Make 3-4 on side of bottle as entry holes for flies.– Insert a string or wire at the hole. Place the bait inside the bottle. – Hung the trap in a shady part of the tree just above the lower leaves. – Replace the bait as per recommendation of manufacturer. PreviousEnd Next

Leaf webber

Mechanical removal of infested webs by leaf web

removing device and burning them reduces leaf

webber population.

Pruning of infested shoots Pruning of infested shoots and their burning in the and their burning in the

month of April to July is month of April to July is found effective.found effective.

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The pest should be kept in check The pest should be kept in check by picking the gregarious by picking the gregarious slug slug

caterpillars caterpillars and the cocoons and the cocoons which are found on tree trunks which are found on tree trunks

and destroying them in water and destroying them in water with a film of kerosene. with a film of kerosene.

Clipping off and destruction of attacked shoots reduces further

buildup of shoot borer, leaf miner, and scale insects.

Clipping and destruction of Clipping and destruction of infested shoots by infested shoots by shoot borershoot borer, , collect and destroy the infested collect and destroy the infested

plant parts plant parts

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Stem BorerStem Borer

Cut and destroy affected branches Cut and destroy affected branches with grubs and pupae. with grubs and pupae.

Clean hole and Clean hole and Pour kerosene/petrol/crude oil or formalin into the stem borer hole and subsequently close entrance of the tunnel by plugging with cotton wool and paste the mud.

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Psylla galls with nymphs should be collected and destroyed. Spray 2, 4-D (@ 150 mg/litre of water) during October opens the galls, and nymphs come out and killed with cold

Painting trees with tar and prompt removal of mud galleries may be carried out regularly for controlling the termites.

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Summary

After mud plastering 25 cm wide, 400 gauge alkathene (Polythene) sheet should be fastened to the tree \trunk with the help of sutili, about 30 cm above the ground level to prevent migration of freshly hatched first instar nymphs of mealy bugs in the month of November-December.

Early harvesting of mature fruits to avoid fruit fly infestation, collection and destruction of fruit fly infested fruits.

Removal of webs made by leaf webber by leaf removing device and burning them in August to September to control leaf webber.

Clipping off and destruction of attacked shoots reduces further buildup of shoot borer, leaf miner, and scale insects.

Cut and destroy stem borer affected branches with grubs and pupae

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