Pest status of Erosomyia indica - a midge pest of mango.
Prasad S. N., Grover P.
Author Affiliation: Laboratory of Cecidology, Department of Zoology, Allahabad University, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Cecidologia Indica 11 : 25-56
Abstract : Doubts have been cast on the pest status of mango midges in India, and details are given of investigations of infestation especially by Erosomyia indica Grover & Prasad at Allahabad in the State of Uttar Pradesh, India, in 1972-76, with tables that show that attack at the bud, axis or fruit stage caused heavy fruit losses through premature fall of the mangoes that did develop. The most effective insecticide for control appeared to be phosphamidon (Dimecron), whether mixed with diazinon or not, as a foliar spray. Letters from M. R. G. K. Nair and O. S. Bindra and a report of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research study team, all of whom visited Allahabad and analysed the mango midge situation there, are appended to the paper; these confirm the importance of E. indica as a mango pest and suggest reasons for the previous lack of recognition of its pest status (including the small size of the insect, the probability of its partial control by insecticides applied against other pests, and the similarity of the damage caused by it to spotting or malformations caused by fungal and other infections). Recommendations in these appended reports include further study on correlations between Erosomyia populations and environmental factors, the use of trunk implantations of insecticides as well as soil and foliar sprays, use of attractants, and investigations into biological control, microbial insecticides, chemosterilants and pheromones.