Pests infesting ornamental plants in hilly region of West Bengal
S. Pal and I. Sarkar
ABSTRACT
The survey was conducted during 2005-07 at the farms of R.R.S., UBKV, Kalimpong; R.R.S.S., UBKV, Pedong and other adjoining areas. The Crops surveyed included gladiolus, carnation, anthurium, gerbera, china rose, chrysanthemum, Bird of Paradise, Straw flower. A number of aphid species were found infesting different ornamental plants viz. Myzus persicae on Carnation, gerbera and Anthurium; Macrosiphoniella sanborni on Chrysanthemum; Aphis gossypii on China rose. Other sucking pests infesting ornamentals included Bemisia tabaci on Gerbera, leafhopper on Gladiolus and scale insect (unspecified) on Anthurium. Amongst the thysanopteran pests Taeniothrips simplex was very much serious on Gladiolus and another species of thrips (unspecified) was found infesting Carnation. Amongst the lepidopteran pests, gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) was found most important inflicting serious damage to Carnation, Gerbera, Gladiolus, Chrysanthemum and Straw flower. The green semilooper, Plusia orichalcea caused damage to Gerbera and Gladiolus by feeding on the leaves. The tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) was serious on Gladiolus and Anthurium. Cutworm (Agrotis segetum) damaged the seedlings of Gladiolus. Among the Coleopteran pests, the Blister beetle (Mylabris p) was the most important feeding on the flowers of Gladiolus and China rose. The steel blue beetle, Altica p. and white spotted flea beetle (Monolepta signata) was found infesting Gladiolus and Chrysanthemum respectively. The serpentine leaf miner (Liriomyza trifolii) was recorded on gerbera. Among non-insect pests the red spider mite, Tetranychus urticae was very important causing havoc to Carnation, Gerbera and Chrysanthemum during dry summer months.
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December 2009
Vol. 1, Iss. 1, Pages 1-101
