Ecological studies on mango hopper, Amritodes atkinsoni Lethier in Andhra Pradesh as a basis for IPM.
Kannan M., Rao N. V.
Author Affiliation: Department of Entomology, ANGRAU S. V. Agricultural College, Tirupati - 517 502 (A. P.), India.
Crop Research (Hisar) 32 : 235-238
Abstract : The effects of host plant and weather parameters on the abundance and population dynamics of the mango hopper, Amritodes atkinsoni infesting mango were determined in field experiments conducted in Andhra Pradesh, India. The peak incidence of hoppers was observed during the third week of January (85.0 hoppers per 12 inflorescences). Correlation studies showed negative relationship between the incidence of the pest and weather parameters such as minimum temperature, relative humidity in the evening and rainfall (r = -0.2038, r = -0.4371 and r = -0.2358, respectively) and positive relationship between the incidence of the pest and maximum temperature (r = 0.3406) and morning relative humidity (r=0.0646). None of the varieties was free from infestation which ranged from 16.96 to 107.6 hoppers/12 panicles. Cultivar Baneshan showed the least infestation, whereas cv. Mulgoa showed the most severe infestation by the pest. Cultivars Bangalora, Rumari, Cherakurasam, Neeleshan and Swarnajahangir were moderately infested by the pest. Old mango trees (15 and above years old) were more susceptible (66.0 hopper/12 panicles) to hopper damage than young trees (0-5 years old).