The population dynamics and insecticidal control of three leaf hoppers, Amritodus brevistylus Leth., Idioscopus niveosparus Leth. and Idioscopus clypealis Leth. (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) in mango.
Kudagamage C., Rajapakse H. L. de Z., Rajapakse R. H. S., Disna Ratnasekara
Author Affiliation: Division of Entomology, Horticultural Research & Development Institute, Department of Agriculture, Gannoruwa, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Journal of Entomological Research 25 : 121-125
Abstract : The population dynamics of three species of mango leaf hoppers, A. brevistylus, I. niveosparsus and I. clypealis, were studied at Kundasale and Gannoruwa in the mid-country region of Sri Lanka over three years (1991-93). The population of I. niveosparsus and A. brevistylus began to increase in February with a peak in March-April in both locations. The population peaks for I. clypealis was observed in March and September at Gannoruwa, and April and October in Kundasale. These population peaks coincided with the occurrence of major or minor flowering seasons of mango. In the case of A. brevistylus, another population peak was also observed in June. This species bred on vegetative shoots, and the population increase coincided with the occurrence of vegetative flush. The effectiveness of neem oil and chemical insecticides fenthion (Fenthion 50% EC), buprofezin (Applaud 10% WP) and imidacloprid (Admire SL 200) was tested against the mango hoppers in a two-application schedule applied just after flowering and again 10 days later. Imidacloprid (1 ml/litre) was the most effective insecticide, and the optimum time to control mango hoppers in mid-country wet zone was in February-March.