GARDEN LIFE
Nip mango mealy bug in the bud now

A write-up on the mango mealy bug, now? It may surprise many. Most people think that April-May is the time when the insect appears in large numbers to attack the mango trees. But no. Now is the time when the bugs start moving up the trees. Thus, any complacence now costs dearly later.

It is very important to understand the life cycle of any insect to mark the stage when it should be broken. In case of the mango mealy bug, winter is the time to check it from proliferating. Do not be misled by the name mango mealy bug as this insect attacks not only the mango tree but over 70 other tree species. Besides damaging plants and trees, the insect has tremendous nuisance value. In the beginning of this year, I conducted a survey and came across interesting observations. A resident of Sector 16, Chandigarh, came to know about the presence of the tiny devils when she discovered them falling inside the house, on the dining table! The rooftop of her house had them in large numbers. Another resident in Sector 18 found them entering her living room and bathroom through the windows. To one of the residents, it would have caused a nightmare as the toddler in the house had picked the insects and was about to put them in the mouth. A person in Sector 27 observed that however cautious one might be, one was bound to tread on the insect which leaves a more or less permanent yellow marks on the floor.

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During this time of the year, the insects hatch from the eggs that were laid six inches below the soil near the tree trunk by wingless females the previous summer. The barely one-millimeter-long dark brown to black insects appear and their natural instinct propels them upwards, towards the growing tree tips.

There, these insects congregate in thousands and start sucking the plant sap. They cause immense damage and deprive the tree of its nutrients. 

In case of fruit trees, the yield is severely affected. It so happens that when the insects appear in large numbers, some of these are disoriented and start moving up on the walls or inwards. This is moreso when the insects lay eggs near elevated spots.

As the insect cannot fly and has to crawl up the tree, this weakness can be exploited to control it. For this, a slippery band of alkathene can be tied on the main stem to act as a barrier for the insects’ march upwards. 

An eight to 10- inch-wide alkathene band can be tied a metre high on the main stem by securing its loose ends with three nails (2-cm-long). The lower edge of the band is then sealed with the help of wet soil so that the insects do not crawl up from below the lower edge of the alkathene sheet.

You may not be able to see the insects now as these are in the process of appearing and are too tiny. The remedial measures need to be taken on a war footing, before they crawl up towards the tip. From the slippery band the insects keep falling again and again till they are exhausted. 

After a few days, you will notice a mound of thousands of them dead near the base of the tree. You may also sprinkle methyl parathion powder near the base of the tree so that emerging insects get poisoned and die even before they start crawling upwards.

To control this menace, it will have to be dealt with in a planned manner. Those having locked premises next door will also have to be more cautious as such places are potential breeding places. Tell your neighbours too to take such measures, else the insects climbing up their trees may travel into your garden as the branches of trees in adjoining houses often interlock.

This feature was published on December 14, 2003