INSECT PESTS OF BLACK PEPPER

Abstract

Infestation by insect pests is one of the main factors responsible for the low productivity of pepper in major pepper growing countries. Pepper is infested by 56 genera/species of insects in India damaging various parts of the vine such as roots, stems, shoots, leaves, spikes and berries. However, when the nature and extent of damage is taken into consideration, pollu beetle (Longitarsus nigripennis Mots.), top shoot borer (Cydia hemidoxa Meyr.), leaf gall thrips (Liothrips karnyi Bagn.) and scale insects (Lepidosaphes piperis Green and Aspidiotus destructor Sign.) could be considered as major pests. The other genera/species belonging to diverse groups are minor pests though some of them can cause severe damage to the crop sporadically in certain locations. Information on insect pests of pepper in India are available mainly from Devasahayam et al. (1988) and Premkumar et al. (1994). The major insects pests of pepper in Indonesia and Malaysia are pepper weevil/ stem borer (Lophobaris piperis Marshl.), pepper bug (Dasynus piperis China) and tingid bug/blossom bug (Diconocoris hewetti Dist.). Information on various aspects of these pests are mainly available from Kueh (1979) and Deciyanto and Suprapto (1991). The information available on distribution, nature and extent of damage, life history, seasonal population, resistance, natural enemies, alternate hosts and management of these insect pests in India, Indonesia and Malaysia is reviewed here. A list of these insect pests and the plant parts affected by them is provided in Tables 6.1 and 6.2.