Ecofriendly Management of Rugose Spiralling Whitefly Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin Infesting Coconut

Abstract

Studies were conducted on the incidence, intensity of infestation, infestation grade index and natural enemy complex of rugose spiralling whitefly (RSW) Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin infesting coconut palms so as to evolve ecofriendly IPM. RSW incidence was at peak in June 2018 (38.3%), subsequently declined in December 2018 (20.5%), but later attained peak again in March 2019 (47.5%). The pest intensity also showed increasing trend from January 2018 to June 2019. The mean intensity of infestation and infestation grade index were 29.5% and 1.5 (medium), respectively in 2018-2019. The incidence and intensity significantly reduced from 75.5 to 37.7% and 85.7 to 42.9%, respectively on palms treated with ecofriendly IPM practices in 2018-19. Nut yield and net return were also found more in synergy with maximum parasitism (78.5%) by the aphelinid parasitoid Encarsia guadeloupae Viggiani observed on palms treated with ecofriendly IPM practices.