This document provides information about common tea pests in Bangladesh and their management. It discusses 10 major tea pests that affect tea production in Bangladesh: 1) Red spider mite, 2) Scarlet mite, 3) Pink mite, 4) Tea aphid, 5) Tea jassid, 6) Tea mosquito bug, 7) Tea red borer, 8) Tea leaf roller, 9) Thrips, and 10) Termites. For each pest, it describes their nature of damage, life cycle, and recommended control measures such as chemical pesticides and pruning. The overall document aims to educate readers on identifying and managing key insect and mite pests that impact tea gardens in Bangladesh

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Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet
Department of Food Engineering & Tea Technology
An
Assignment on
Common Tea pests & Their Management in Tea Garden
Course No: FET 326
Course Title: Entomology & Tea pest Management Sessional
Date of Submission: 16/08/2018
Submitted By
Name: Saad Al-din Sifat
Registration No: 2014337048
Dept. of FET
SUST.
Submitted To
Dr. Razia Sultana Chowdhury
Associate Professor
Dept. of FET
SUST.
Ms. Mitu Samadder
Lecturer
Dept. of FET
SUST.

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INDEX
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………… 3
1. Red Spider Mite……………………………………………………………………………….. 3
2. Scarlet Mite……………………………………………………………………………………. 6
3. Pink Mite ……………………………………………………………………………………... 7
4. Tea Aphid …………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
5. Tea Jassid ……………………………………………………………………………………..10
6. Tea Mosquito Bug …………………………………………………………………………… 12
7. Tea Red Borer ……………………………………………………………………………….. 14
8. Tea Leaf Roller ……………………………………………………………………………… 15
9. Thrips ………………………………………………………………………………………... 17
10. Termites ……………………………………………………………………………………. 18
Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………………... 20
References ……………………………………………………………………………………… 21

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INTRODUCTION
Tea, Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze is grown within the tropics and in diverse agro ecological
conditions such as temperatures from - 12ºC to 40ºC, annual rainfall from 938 to 6000 mm and
relative humidity from 30 to 90%. It is grown on over 2.71 million ha in more than 34 countries
(Hazarika et al. 2009).
Bangladesh is an important tea producing country. Its tea industry dates back to British rule,
when the East India Company initiated the tea trade in Chittagong in 1840.Today, the country
has 162 commercial tea estates, including many of the world's largest working plantations.The
industry accounts for 3% of global tea production, and employs more than 4 million people
PESTS
Entomology is a branch of zoology which addresses all aspects of insects, mites, ticks and
nematodes.
Tea Entomology is a branch of tea science which deals with insects, mites and nematodes in tea
culture. Insects, nematodes and mites are the major group of organisms infesting tea in
Bangladesh. The lost due to pests damage is considered to be quite high.
A pest has been defined as any organism that causes trouble, annoyance or discomfort is known
as pest.
Or, Living organisms which causes harm to our health, properties or well-beings are known as
pest.
COMMON TEA PESTS IN BANGLADESH
In Bangladesh tea, so far 25 insects, 4 mites and 10 species of nematodes have been recorded.
Only few of them have major pests while most of them are minor and localized and cause
occasional damage. In tea, a major pest of today maybe minor of tomorrow. On the contrary,
more than one pest may invade conjointly or simultaneously to the same bush or the same garden
in a particular session or in some gardens. Each tea growing country has its own distinctive pests,
diseases and weeds. Tea mosquito bugs, Red spider mite, Termites, Flush worm, Aphid, Jassid,
Thrips and Nematodes are the major pests of tea in Bangladesh. Their habit, nature of injury, life
cycle and control measurements are presented.
1. RED SPIDER MITE
Red Spider mites are members of the Acari (mite) family Tetranychidae, which includes about
1,200 species. They generally live on the undersides of leaves of plants, where they may spin
protective silk webs, and they can cause damage by puncturing the plant cells to feed. Spider
mites are known to feed on several hundred species of plants.

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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Subclass: Acari
Order: Trombidiformes
Family: Tetranychidae
Genus: Tetranychus
Species: T. urticae
Nature of Injury
The mites suck sap from cells on the underside of plant leaves, in the early stages, characteristic
white speckles can be seen from the upper leaf surface.
As mite numbers increase these white speckles will increase in number, the leaf will take on a
bleached appearance and die.
The mites are found in highest numbers on the underside of leaves although and a magnifying
glass may be needed to see them!
As the population builds, webs and aggregations of mites at certain sites are seen, usually at the
growing points of the plant.

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Fig: Red spider mite and infected tea leaf.
Life History
The mites go through 5 development stages. Egg to adult takes about 14 days at 21ºC, or less
than a week at 30ºC.
Eggs are laid on the underside of leaves. Each adult female can produce more than 100 eggs in 3
weeks. They reproduce at alarming rates. 10 spider mite in May are capable of becoming 1,000
by June & 100,000 by July! High humidity can reduce the egg laying rate of the mites.
During the autumn, when day lengths shorten the mites turn deep red in color and migrate from
the plants to hibernate in crevices within the glasshouse structure.
Red spider mite can overwinter without feeding and re-emerge in the spring and summer to re-
infest plants.
Control Measures
Chemical pesticide use actually encourages the spread of spider mites by killing the beneficial
insects that prey on them. Mites are also known to develop quick resistance to various pesticides.
For these reasons, it’s important to control mites with effective natural and organic methods.
1. Pruning of leaves, stems and other infested parts of plants will past any webbing.
2. Poorly shaded sections should be provided with proper shade.
3. Areas of skiffed tea, nursery plants and other susceptible areas should be given a round of
prophylactic spray with any of the recommended chemicals during or after January
4. Young tea less than five years old should be sprayed as early as in October-November
followed by another round in January.

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2. SCARLET MITE
Brevipalpus phoenicis, also known as the false spider mite, red and black flat mite and in
Australia as the passionvine mite is a species of mite in the family Tenuipalpidae. This species
occurs globally, and is a serious pest to such crops as citrus, tea, papaya, guava and coffee, and
can heavily damage numerous other crops.
The genus Brevipalpus has 300 species worldwide with B.
californicus being one of the most significant agricultural pest
species within the genus. Even though they are in the ―flat mite‖
family, Tenuipalpidae; Brevipalpus mites are not flat and have a
central ridge present. Overall, these reddish-brown mites are often
undetected on plants because of their microscopic size (200-400
micrometers) and somewhat sessile behavior.
Nature of Damage
The damage to the tea plant is caused by larvae, nymphs and adult
mites, which feed on the sap of the leaves and occasionally on
petioles. Their attack is mainly confined to the upper surface of the
mature foliage. As a result of feeding, mature leaves become reddish
bronze, and consequently infested fields can be identified even from
a distance. If the tea bush is under drought stress, tender leaves may
also be attacked. Infestation by mites reduces the photosynthetic
capacity of leaves and ultimately leaves wilt, due to increased
transpiration and moisture loss. Such leaves are then abscissed,
resulting in defoliation.
Fig: Scarlet Mite & infested tea leaves.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Subclass: Acari
Order: Trombidiformes
Family: Tenuipalpidae
Genus: Brevipalpus
Species: B. phoenicis

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Life History
Brevipalpus phoenicis lays approximately 50 to 60 eggs during adulthood. These eggs have a
fragile stipe that projects from them, and may break if handled. The eggs hatch 8 to 16 days after
being laid.
Females deposit eggs singly, commonly sharing a single location with other females. Usually 4
to 8 clusters of eggs are present, normally deposited in cracks or the hollow cavities in leaves
created when the internal mesophyll has been destroyed. One day before the eggs hatch, they
turn opaque white and the red eyes of the larvae within become visible.[1]
In warm to temperate regions, 4 to 6 generations of this mite can occur each year. In tropical
regions, at least 10 generations can occur. Ideal conditions for this species are a temperature
range of 25–30 °C (77–86 °F) with high relative humidity.
Adult females live for a maximum of 5 to 6 weeks. The maximum life expectancy for this
species is 47 days at 68 °F, with a minimum of 7.5 days at 86 °F in regions of relative humidity
of 85% to 90%.
Populations of Brevipalpus phoenicis are almost entirely female. This is because the species
is parthenogenetic, with most reproduction occurring from unfertilized eggs that produce only
females. Development takes place in three stages—larva, protonymph, and deutonymph. The
maturation from egg to adult occurs during 12 to 24 days.
Control Measures
Spraying with kelthane, Tedion V-18 to the spraying calendar should be done after pruning and
during April-May. The mite prone areas should be thoroughly sprayed, specially the under
surface of leaves and stems.
3. PINK MITE
Pink mite, Acaphylla theae, is reported to attack tae in N-E India, South India and Bangladesh. In
Bangladesh tea , the incidence was first recorded in1966 and a wide spread attack is still in
evidence in certain localities specially the young plantation.
Nature of injury
This mite attacks thee flush and the tender foliage. Typical symptoms of attack are the twisting
of tender shoots and leaves; the under surface of leaves, particularly among the mid rib and
margins turn buff color and finally brown; in severe infestation, affected leaves thicken and
become leathery in appearance. The flush becomes dull green.

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Fig: Pink mite and infested tea shoot
Life History
The adult female mite is deep purple color; the body is elongated, spindle shaped, slightly
boarder at the anterior end and measures .15 to 0.2 mm in length. Two pairs of legs are directed
forward and the posterior end is provided with a sucker. The adult male is slightly smaller than
the female. Eggs are laid singly, firmly and glued onto the undersurface of tender leaves. The
eggs are about 0.07 mm in diameter, glistening, translucent and globular. Three developmental
stages, viz. larva - protonymph – deutonymph, takes place through two molts. The life cycle
takes place through two molts. The life cycle is completed in about a week and a half depending
on the season and the prevailing climatic conditions. The population generally increases during
the early part of the season, March-June and thereafter declines.
Control Measures
An efficient control of the pest may be spraying with kelthane 40 MF or Neoron EC as per list
after pruning and during April-May. The mite prone areas should be thoroughly sprayed,
specially the under surface of leaves and stems.
4. TEA APHID
This is commonly called plant lice and is widely distributed in the tea plantation in India, Sri-
Lanka, and Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, this is one of the serious pests of tea nursery among
young tea plantations.
Adult apterae of Aphis (Toxoptera) aurantii are oval, shiny black, brownish-black or reddish
brown in color with rather short black-and-white banded antennae. The antennal terminal
process is more than 3.5 times the length of the base of the last antennal segment.
The cauda and siphunculi are black, and the siphunculi are 1.0-1.5 times the length of the cauda.
The cauda usually has less than 20. The body length of Aphis (Toxoptera) aurantii apterae is
about 2 mm long.

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Nature of Injury
Aphids feed on the tender stems and the undersurfaces of leaves
and buds. The affected leaves tend to curl and become distorted
and growth of the shoot is greatly retarded. There is a symbiotic
relationship between ants and aphids. Aphids excrete sweet
honey dew for the ants on the leaf surface and are encouraged
and attended by them. As a result, the attack of aphid can be
easily detected by the presence of black ants.
The black citrus aphid is found on the underside of leaves
of Citrus, as well as tea (Camellia), coffee (Coffea) and mango
(Mangifera). Infestation in spring can be very harmful to citrus
crops. In temperate countries Aphis (Toxoptera) aurantii is a pest
of ornamental Camellia bushes.
Fig: Aphid (Toxoptera aurantii).
Fig: Aphid (Toxoptera aurantii) infestation on tea shoot & bud.
Brown Citrus Aphid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Aphididae
Genus: Toxoptera
Species: T. aurantii

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Life History
Aphid eggs over winter and females emerge in the spring to begin quickly reproducing
asexually. Aphid reproduction is usually parthenogenetic and viviparous, which means
that aphids give live birth to first instar female nymphs that resemble their parents in every way
except size.
In spring an egg hatches, producing a wingless female aphid that soon begins
parthenogenetically producing new wingless females. Generation after generation of wingless
females survive one another until hot weather comes or maybe the plant on which they are living
dies and then suddenly some of the females grow wings and fly off.
This new generation of female winged aphid very well may at this time find a plant host of
a completely different species from that on which their spring generations developed. For
instance, Green Peach Aphids overwinter as eggs on peach and related trees but in spring they
move to various weeds and agricultural crops, and then still later they move onto potato crops,
only in the fall returning to peach and related trees.
Typically late in the year when it's time to move back to the plant species on which the aphid
overwinters, finally some aphids develop into males as well as females. Sexual reproduction then
takes place and when the mated females return to the winter plant-host they lay fertilized eggs.
Then next spring the females hatch from the eggs and the cycle begins again, with no males in
sight.
Our Turnip Aphids differ from this scenario a little. Since they live in a part of the country where
winters are not so severe, so that an overwintering "egg stage" is not really needed, reproduction
throughout the year is often entirely or nearly entirely parthenogenetic.
Control Measures
Natural enemies such as lady bug beetles, lace winged flies and hymenopterous parasites destroy
large number of aphids and generally keep them under control during unfavorable season of the
year. Moreover, if the plucking round is maintained at 7-10 days, they will be eradicated through
the process of plucking.
The pest can be effectively controlled by using Ekatin 25 E.C. or Ragor 40 E.C. at the rate of 1.2
liters per hector with Malathion 57 E.C.
5. TEA JASSID/GREEN FLY
Tea Jassid, Empoasca Flavescens, is commonly called green fly and widely distributed in the tea
districts of India, Bangladesh, Japan and Africa. In Bangladesh tea, it occasionally attacks
nursery plant, young plantation and plants recovering from pruning. In India it is supposed to be
a major tea pest in North-Eastern portion.

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Nature of Injury
Both the adults and nymphs are destructive. They feed upon the sap of
the leaves. By sucking the apical shoot they prevent the growth of the
plant. The early symptoms, as a result of the infection of this pest, is
the appearance of yellow or brownish patches at the margin of the
leaves, followed by distortion of leaf veins and curling of leaves. Such
a symptom is called as ―rim blight‖. Ultimately, the leaf becomes
brittle and dries. Besides tea, his pest also attack castor, cotton, Lady’s
finger, brinjal, potato etc.
Fig: Tea Jassid (Empoasca Flavescens)
Life History
The adults are small and yellowish-green jassids, less than 1/4 inches in length. The head is prolongated
forward as a smooth, flat, triangular structure with a pair of antennae possessing sensorial. The thorax is
simple and abdomen is tapering posterior. The hind legs have two parallel rows of spines which extend all
along the hind tibiae.
The female lacerate the leave tissues and young stems and insert its eggs inside the veins and
mid ribs of the leaves. A female may lay 15 to 37 eggs. The oviposition period is five to seven
days. Depending upon the temperature, egg hatches into nymph within 6 to 13 days. Hatching
period is longer in summer as compared to winter.
The nymph undergoes five instars and becomes adult in 8 to 22 days. Life cycle is completed in
a span of 19 to 42 days. The average longevity of male adult is nine days, whereas the female
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Clade: Euarthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Cicadellidae
Subfamily: Typhlocybinae
Tribe: Empoascini
Genus: Empoasca

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lives for 17 days. In certain cases it has been recorded that an adult of E.flavescens may live up
to 102 days. The insect remain active throughout the year but maximum population growth
occurs during November to January.
Control Measures
Owing to its minute size destruction of this pest by hand picking is not possible.
Chemical control involves spraying of Malathion, Endosulfan, DDT, Parathion, BHC,
Phosphamidon, Carbaryl etc.
6. TEA MOSQUITO BUG (Helopeltis Theivora)
The genus Helopeltis, also known as mosquito bugs, is a group of Heteropterans in the
family Miridae (capsid bugs). They include important pests of various crops,
including cacao, cashew, cotton and tea. Now in a different subgenus, a number of
similar Afropeltis species are pests in Africa.
This is the most important among the tea pests in Bangladesh. H.
theivora have been reported from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Indo-China and
India. In India they are more commonly found in North-Eastern part. The
adult bugs are good fliers.
The adult H. theivora is small bug measuring 6-8 mm in length. The
body is slender and elongated with yellowish-brown or olive green head,
dark red thorax and yellow and greenish-black abdomen. Appendages are
long, dark and delicate. The thorax bears a characteristic dorsal knobbed
process.
Nature of Injury
The adult and nymph stage of H. theivora causes damage of serious
nature to the tea plantation. The nymph and adult inserts their proboscis
into the young leaves, buds and tender shoots to suck the plant sap. The
toxin injected through saliva of the pest causes the tissues around the
punctured snot to dry and die.
The affected portion becomes brown and later on becomes black. The
leaves having many such black spots shrivel and eventually fall off. The
infected shoot also show such spots winch extends to almost whole plant.
The bushes severely affected by this pest look as if they have been
torched by fire.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Family: Miridae
Subfamily: Bryocorinae
Tribe: Monaloniini
Genus: Helopeltis

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Fig: Tea mosquito bug. Fig: Symptoms of Tea Mosquito infestation.
Life History
Mating occurs soon after the emergence of adults. Female start laying eggs within two days later
copulation- A female is capable of laying about 500 eggs. The eggs are trust by the female into
the surface tissues of the host plants, like leaves, tender shoots mid rib petioles of the leaves and
buds.
The eggs are elongated and sausage shaped. Each egg bears two C filamentous processes which
project out from the tissues in which the eggs have been inserted Hatching occurs within 5 to 7
days in summer and 20 to 27 days m winter.
The nymph looks like spider in appearance because it bears delicate, elongated legs. The dirty-
yellow nymphs suck the sap of the host plant and undergo five moults to attain maturity. The
larval periods lasts for 9-10 days in summer and 25-29 days in winter. Life cycle is completed in
about 15 20 day in summer and 45-60 days in winter in North-East Indian conditions. There may
be several generations in a year. In extreme winter the adults undergoes hibernation.
Control Measures
Chemical Control:
By spraying DDT (0.1%) and malathion (0.1%) the insect population can be controlled
Biological Control:
Biological control includes introduction of hyperparasite, Agamermisparadecandata (stainer)
which parasitizes the nymphal stage of the mosquito bug.
Cultural Control:
Plant growing in soil having high ratio of available potash to available phosphoric acid show less
infestation of this pest. Therefore, cultivation of tea plants in appropriate soil is advisable to keep
the pest population under control.

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7. TEA RED BORER, Zeuzera coffeae
This pest is widely distributed in Bangladesh but is more prevalent in Tea producing parts of the
country. Usually, young stems are bored by the caterpillars; as the larva grows, the tunnel is also
extended; holes are made at intervals to eject the excreta and wood particles; tunnel may run
even up to root; moths have white wings with many black spots; eggs are laid like beads on a
thread; caterpillars emerge in 10 days; they suspend themselves by silken threads and get
dispersed; larvae bore into young stems; larvae tunnel downwards, devouring the woody parts,
especially the pith; tunnels are extended to thicker branches.
The adult moths are white, medium sized with a wing expanse of 28-40 mm. Males are smaller
than females. The wings are long and narrow with small black spots on the forewings and small
dots on the outer margin of the hind wings. Bipectinate antennae are present in both sexes.
Proboscis is absent. The abdomen is long and posterior tapering.
Nature of Injury
The destruction is caused by the caterpillars of this pest. The
caterpillars bore into the bark of the stem and makes tunnel inside it.
They may reach up to the roots of the plant by extending the tunnel.
The leaves of the affected stem wither and ultimately the branches die.
If the larvae reach up to the root, which usually occurs in young plants,
the plant as a whole dies. Pinkish excreta of the caterpillars emerge out
from the holes made by pest on the stem. Zeuzera coffea is supposed to
be a serious pest of tea and coffee in India. It also infests Sandal trees.
Life History
Adult moth copulates after their emergence. Female laid eggs on stem of the host plants. Eggs
are arranged in several rows on the branches of the plants. Larvae hatch out from the eggs in
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Thysanoptera
Family: Cossidae
Genus: Zeuzera
Species: Z. coffeae

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about ten days. The larvae are smooth and red in color. They bear chitinous dorsal plates and five
pairs of sucker feet. They bore in the stem of the host plant and forms tunnel inside the branches.
Within 4 to 5 months the larva becomes fully grown and attains a length of about 38 mm. The
color of the larva becomes purple-brown with brown head. Pupation takes place inside the tunnel
formed by the larvae in the host stem.
Within 3 to 4 weeks adult moth emerges out from the pupa. Before transforming into pupa, the
larva makes a hole inside the stem and the emerging moth readily comes out from the hole. Life
cycle is completed in about 5 to 6 months.
Control Measures
Since, the larvae remains inside the host stem for most of the part of the life span, use of
pesticides is not much effective. The pest can be controlled by the removal and destruction of the
affected branches of the host plant. In severe infection the whole plant should be uprooted and
destroyed.
8. TEA LEAF ROLLER (Caloptilia theivora)
The leaf roller, Caloptilia Theivora is a minor pest of tea in N-E India, Indonesia, Sri-Lanka and
Bangladesh.
Nature of Injury
The larva mines the leaves during the first two instars, the mine
beginning as a gallery and widening into a blotch. In the third and
later instars it rolls the end of the leaf downwards creating a cone, in
which frass accumulates, two or three successive cones are formed,
usually at the tip of a leaf; the downward curling of the leaf
distinguishes this species from Tortiricid leaf-rollers.
Fig: Tea Leaf roller (larva).
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gracillariidae
Genus: Caloptilia
Species: C. theivora

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Fig: Rolled Tea leaf.
Control Measures
Biological Control
Whilst several parasitoids have been identified there are no records of manipulation of them to
control C. theivora.
Chemical Control
The internal or protected feeding habits of the larva make chemical control less useful, and
insecticides reduce the parasitoids which can normally restrict infestations to low levels, making
chemical control expensive. Muraleedharan and Radhakrishnan (1989) reported that large-scale
surveys in southern India showed that the insecticides in use in tea gardens were largely ones that
had been cleared for residue tolerance levels on tea.
Murthy et al. (1979) found that permethrin at a dilution of 1:500 gave the best results in a
preliminary trial. It also had the best residual action.
Takahashi et al. (1992) found the broad spectrum insecticide NI-25 (N-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)
methyl]-N-cyano-N-methylacetamidine) to be effective in trials.

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9. THRIPS
The chilli thrips or yellow tea thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, is an extremely
successful invasive species of pest-thrips which has expanded rapidly from Asia over the last
twenty years, and is gradually achieving a global distribution. Chilli thrips appear to feed
preferentially on new growth, and infested plants usually develop characteristic wrinkled leaves,
with distinctive brown scarring along the veins of leaves, the buds of flowers, and the calyx of
fruit. Feeding damage can reduce the sale value of crops produced, and in sufficient numbers,
kill plants already aggravated by environmental stress. This thrips has also been implicated in the
transmission of three tospoviruses, but there is some controversy over its efficiency as a vector.
This thrips has a rapid life cycle, and can develop from egg to adult in slightly less than two
weeks under optimal weather conditions.
Nature of Injury
Both the adults and nymphs lacerate the tender leaves and suck
up the plant sap. As a result fine yellowish lines or silvery
streaks are seen on the leaves. Later, the leaves curl
longitudinally and begin to dry from the tip downwards.
In severe cases, the entire nursery may dry up and fail to produce
seedling. Sometimes transplanted crop is also affected in the
early stages.
Fig: Thrips (nymph)
Fig: Affected tea leaf.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Thysanoptera
Family: Thripidae
Subfamily: Thripinae
Genus: Scirtothrips
Species: S. dorsalis

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Life History
Thrips hatch from an egg and develop through two actively feeding larval stages and two non-
feeding stages, the pre-pupa and pupa, before becoming an adult. Late-instar larvae change
greatly in appearance and behavior and are called pre-pupae and pupae, even though thrips do
not have a true pupal stage.
Control Measures
 Spray applications are only effective when thrips are actively feeding as larvae or adults.
The application of a series of pesticide sprays increases the likelihood of larvae and
adults coming into contact with the chemical.
 Like all insects, the rate that thrips completes a life cycle depends on temperature. At
higher temperatures thrips develop more quickly requiring a shorter length of time
between sprays.
 The most effective strategy is to incorporate biological control into management. Several
species of beneficial insects and mites have become commercially available in Australia.
These include predatory mites that feed on the thrips larvae (Transeius
montdorensis, Neoseiulus cucumeris), or pupae (Hypoaspis spp. also known
as Stratiolaelaps spp.).
10. TERMITES
Termites are one of the most important pests of tea and cosmopolitan in most of the areas of tea
world. The Up-country tea termite, (Postelectrotermes militaris), is a species of dry
wood termite of the genus Postelectrotermes. It is native to India and Sri Lanka.
Nature of Injury
Termites primarily feed on wood, but some species collect green grasses and seeds and store
these in their granaries inside their nest as food reserves. They are sporadic pests, and locally are
important on a wide range of crops.
Some termites eat into the taproots of young plants (e.g. cotton and groundnut) immediately
below the soil surface, destroying the central root portions, and fill the resulting cavities with
soil. Damaged plants wilt and may die within a few days particularly under drought conditions.
Some termites also attack the roots of maize and sorghum, and the damaged plants topple.
Termites may also travel up through the roots into the trunk and branches. They eventually
disrupt the movement of nutrients and water through the vascular system resulting in death of the
plant.

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Life History
Eggs hatch into tiny larvae, which are incapable of feeding on their
own and are raised by specialized workers of the colony. Larvae are
capable to develop into any caste (workers, soldiers or reproductive
forms), depending on time of year, diet etc.
Workers are whitish, wingless and usually blind. They have pale
yellow round heads. They comprise the bulk of the population.
Workers feed all the dependent castes. They also dig tunnels, locate
food and water and build and repair the nest.
The soldiers are whitish, wingless and blind; they are larger than the
workers and have large, brownish heads and strong jaws. With their
specialized defensive weaponry, the role of the soldiers is to protect
the colony against numerous predators such as ants and centipedes.
The reproductive termites are winged and are known as alates.
Numerous winged males and females, generally dark in color and with
well-developed eyes, are produced for swarming. Swarming is often at
dusk after the onset of heavy rains. After flying, they shed off their
wings, mate, and burrow into holes in the soil and cracks in wood to
found a new colony. The queen termite typically develops an
enormously distended abdomen. At her peak, a queen will be laying an
egg every 3 seconds or 30 000 a day in some species; and she will lay
tens of millions of eggs during her life.
Fig: Termites
Control Measures
Termites can remove by crop sanitation, and pruning methods. Cultivating disease-resistant crop
varieties also practiced in tea plantations. Besides that, usage of natural pests and pathogens is
not effective. Some soil-borne entomopathogens, such as entomopathogenic nematodes such
as Heterorhabditis sp., Steinernema carpocapsae and Steinernema feltiae can be effective in
natural areas up to some extent.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Suborder: Isoptera
Family: Kalotermitidae
Genus: Postelectrotermes
Species: P. militaris

20. 20
CONCLUSION
Tea is an important cash crop as well as exportable commodity. For sustainable tea cultivation,
integrated pest management system is the vital component. It is of very much importance to
know about different pests that frequently infests tea plant.
Traditional pest control methods, especially the use of indigenous pesticide plants if improved,
offer a safer, low cost and more dependable method of field crops protection. However, it should
not be assumed that because the botanical pesticides are naturally derived that they are safe to
use and can be consumed by humans.
Plant protection strategy has significant importance in the overall crop production program
aiming at minimizing crop loss due to pests of tea. Integration of cultural, physical, mechanical,
biological and chemical control methods plays major role for effective pest management in tea
plantation.

21. 21
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Brahmachari, G. 2004. Neem-a omnipotent plant. A retrospection. Chem. Biochem., 5:408-421.
Chen, Z.M. and Chen, X.F. 1989. An analysis of world tea pest fauna. J. Tea Sci., 9: 13-22.
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