2. 1. Stem borer: Sahyadrassus malabaricus
(Lepidoptera : Hepialidae)- teak sapling borer
Activity:
- most serious pest of clove in the field in India and
- is generally seen in clove plantations grown near
forest clearings.
Host range: it has been recorded on more than 40
species of woody plants and trees.
Symptoms of damage:
• The stem borer infests the main stem of young trees
at the basal region.
• The larva of the pest girdles the stem and bores
downward into it.
• The girdled portion and bore-hole is covered with a
mat- like frass material.
• The infested trees wilt and succumb to the pest
attack subsequently.
3. Biology
Egg: The eggs are laid on the weeds around the
basins of clove trees.
Larva: Early instar larvae feed on the weed plants
and the later instars migrate to the clove trees
and bore into the stem.
• The larvae are creamy white with a black head
and fully grown larvae measure about 90 mm
in length.
• The dorsal sclerites of the thoracic and
abdominal segments are brown.
Pupa: Pupation occurs within the larval tunnel.
Adult: The adult is a large sized moth with a wing
span of about 110 mm with grayish-brown
mottled forewings.
4. Management:
• The base of clove trees is to be inspected regularly for
symptoms of pest infestation.
• In case the pest infestation is noticed on the stem, the
mat-like frass has to be removed and
chlorpyriphos/quinalphos @2ml/L sprayed around and
injected into the bore hole.
5. 2. Scale insects
Activity:
Many species of scale insects infest clove seedlings in the
nursery and sometimes young plants in the field.
The scale insects generally seen on clove include
• Black Scale ( Saissetia nigra),
• Green scale (Lecanium sp. )
• Wax scale (Ceroplastes floridensis),
• Shield scale (Pulvinaria psidii),
• Masked scale (Mycetaspis personata) and
• Soft scale (Kilifia accuminata).
(Hemiptera: Coccidae)
• The scales are generally seen clustered together on
tender stems and lower surface of leaves.
6. Black Scale: Saissetia nigra
Symptoms of damage:
• It infests tender leaves, shoots and twigs.
• Sooty mould fungus is observed on leaves
due to honey dew secretion.
Identification of pest:
• Female adults are elliptical, flattened and
shiny black.
Management:
• Removal of affected leaves and branches
will prevent the spread.
• The pest can be controlled by need based
spraying of crop with pymetrozine 50 WG
@ 0.6g/L or flonicamid 50 WG @ 0.3g/L.
7. Masked scale: Mycetaspis personata
Symptoms of damage:
• Dome shaped and greyish brown
scale will be seen on the
undersurface of leaves especially of
young clove plants.
• The infested leaves become
discoloured and completely yellowish
and finally may fall down.
Identification of pest:
• Female adults are elliptical, flattened
and black in colour.
8. Green scale: Lecanium sp.
Symptoms of damage:
• Flate and green coloured soft
scales are found feeding on leaves
and tender shoots.
9. 3. Mealy bug: Ferrisia virgata
(Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)
Symptom of damage:
• Soft green mealy bug with a white
mealy ovisac is seen on the
undersurface of tender leaves.
• The feeding causes yellowing and
withering of leaves.
• Sooty mould developing on the
honey dew secreted by the bug.
10. 4. Chilli thrips: Scirtothirps dorsalis
(Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
• Symptoms of damage:The affected leaves show a
pinkish discolouration.
• Flower shedding is also noticed
Management :
• Removal of affected leaves and branches will
prevent the spread.
• The pest can be controlled by need based
spraying of crop with pymetrozine 50 WG @
0.6g/L or flonicamid 50 WG @ 0.3g/L.
