Incidence of Papaya Mealybug in Tapioca in Tamil Nadu

摘要

Recent outbreak of papaya mealy bug on mulberry in epiphytotic proportions leading to acute crop losses of sericulturists in Tamil Nadu has drawn much attention. However in a recent survey, the incidence of the pest is also recorded on tapioca, the primary food plant of eri silkworm, in Namakkal, Salem and Dharmapuri districts where these are cultivated intensively. The highest infestation i.e., 70% of garden surveyed during September-October, 2009 was recorded in Namakkal district followed by Salem (43.3%) and Dharmapuri (36.6%). In Tamil Nadu, the lower foliage of tapioca is used for eri silkworm rearing. Recently, incidence of papaya mealybug has affected the foliage availability and quality of tapioca besides greatly hampering the eri silkworm rearing capacity and cocoon productivity (Graph 1).