Testing the Relative Efficacies of Three Different Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Modules for Controlling Mango Mealy Bug (Drosicha mangiferae G.) at Malda, West Bengal

Abstract

Background: Mango mealy bug (Drosicha mangiferae G.) is a notorious pest of mango and when infestation reaches severity quantum fruit loss takes place. Control of this pest had been found to be impossible with conventional chemical pesticide spray. So, the urgent need is to find some non conventional management practices. Therefore, the current study was undertaken to test three different combinations of available pest management practices.Methods: To test the efficacy of the three Integrated Pest Management Modules (IPM modules) control vs. treated trees were tagged and then mango mealy bug number found in inflorescence was counted. The difference in the number of mealy bug at the peak time infestation (12 SMW) in control vs. treated trees and fruit loss reduction in control vs. treated plants gave the idea about relative efficacy of the different modules.Result: 99.46% of mango mealy bug number and 47.52% fruit drop reduction were achieved by adopting module I. Whereas up to 64.33% mealy bug and 22.84% fruit drop reduction was achieved by module II. The module III was found to be the most effective module and adoption of this module attained 54.72% fruit loss control and 97.10% mealy bug control.