RECOGNITION OF RED WEAVER ANTS IN INTEGRATED CONTROL OF TEA MOSQUITO BUG IN CASHEW PLANTATIONS IN INDIA

Abstract

Tea mosquito bug (TMB), Helopeltis antonii V. Signoret (Heteroptera: Miridae) is a major insect pest in cashew production in India. Current control strategy consistently applies conventional pesticides especially insecticides of organophosphates, carbamates and synthetic pyrethroids. A three round calendar based spray schedule is the most popular measure being adopted across the country, providing desirable control of tea mosquito bug. However, the use of broad-spectrum insecticidal sprays, even occasionally, has profound influence on the pest and beneficial fauna of the cashew ecosystem, resulting in environmental and social problems. Organic cashew growers have no effective pest management options to limit TMB damage, because other soft chemicals are also ineffective. The tree inhabitating red weaver ants Oecophylla smaragdina (Fabricius) (Formicidae: Hymenoptera) are known to control over fifty species of insect pests on many tropical tree crops across the world. Not much research work has been carried out previously in respect of biocontrol potentials of weaver ants in India. Nowadays research interest is on the increase to recognize the weaver ants in a control programme of cashew pests. Prior studies have confirmed that the prevalence of weaver ant is correlated with reduction of Helopeltis populations in certain cashew plantings of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in South India. In the present paper, the existing pest management situation and the significance of ant husbandry practices for a future integrated control programme of tea mosquito bug are discussed.