INCIDENCE, HOST RANGE, EXTENT OF DAMAGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY WAYS OF CONTROLLING MANGO MEALY BUG, DROSICHA MANGIFERAE (STEBBINS) MENACE ON TREES IN CHANDIGARH, HARYANA AND PUNJAB

摘要

Come spring and tiny ugly wingless creatures with ugly creamy white wooly skin start crawling on the tree trunks. A few days later they are seen in large numbers; some ascending and some descending the tree trunks. They also invade buildings, walls, paths, floor, cracks and crevices. When get crushed under the feet or otherwise, they produce unpleasant greyish green fluid which leaves permanent stains lasting long. The ugly looking tiny creature is none other than Mango Mealy Bug or Giant Mealy Bug.Yes, this ugly looking bug assumed near epidemic status in 2013 (Greening Chandigarh Action Plan, 2013) and 2014 in Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab. The pest had crossed all limits in 2014. It forced people to avoid strolling in the park and sitting under the shade of trees as insects would fall on them and besides staining their clothes and skin, they released allergic irritating fluid.