Laboratory evaluation of pesticides on oviposition, egg mortality and feeding deterrence on cashew stem and root borer, Plocaederus ferrugenius L. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

摘要

Cashew stem and root borers namely, Plocaederus ferrugenius L. and P. obesus Gahan (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) are major pests of cashew (Anacardiwn occidentale L.) world wide. The larvae of these pests feed on the vital bark tissues of main stem, primary branches and primary roots of cashew trees, thereby causing hindrance in the flow of plant sap with reduced translocation of nutrients, leading to premature canopy yellowing, leaf fall and drying of the twigs followed by gradual death of infested cashew trees. (Ayyanna and Ramadevi, 1986) Due to death of pest infested trees, the density of yielding cashew trees reduces drastically which in turn causes substantial reduction in cashew nut productivity. These pests are internal feeders and their initial symptoms of damage are generally inconspicuous. Hence, the pest evades timely detection by the cashew farmers.