Mealybug

Pests: non-chemical and biological measures

Remove criss-cross branches, infested shoots and dense branches. Hoppers: apply Metarhizium anisopliae or Beauveria bassiana (10^8 cfu/ml) on the tree trunk once in the off-season and twice at 7-day intervals in the flowering season. Mealy bug: release the Australian ladybird beetle Cryptolaemus montrouzieri at 10 beetles per tree, and band the trees with 20 cm wide degradable polythene sheets. Stem borer: remove and kill the grub mechanically with a needle or wire. Fruit fly: plough the interspaces to expose pupae, collect and destroy fallen fruits, and keep methyl eugenol traps at 25 per hectare.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Mango – Plant protection: pests

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Mealybug

For mealybug, fish oil rosin soap at 25 g per litre is listed as a spray option.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Marigold (precision) – Plant protection, p. 258

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Chemical pesticides: ask before you spray

The source lists chemical sprays for cutworms and Helicoverpa, mealybug, bud borer, thrips and red spider mite. Many are hazardous, and some may be restricted. Choose a product only with your local Agriculture Officer.

Follow the instructions on the product label. Consult your local Agriculture Officer before use.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Marigold (precision) – Plant protection, p. 258

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Whitefly and mosaic: non-chemical measures in the source

Mosaic spreads through whitefly. Take planting material only from healthy plants; remove the weed host Abutilon indicum; set yellow sticky traps (12/ha); use nitrogen carefully; avoid excess irrigation; do not keep the crop beyond its duration. Neem oil 3% is also listed. Papaya mealybug: release the parasitoid Acerophagus papayae (100 per acre). Tuber rot: avoid waterlogging and provide drainage; Trichoderma asperellum 2.5 kg/ha at planting and at the 3rd and 6th months.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Tapioca – Plant protection (whitefly, mosaic, mealybug, tuber rot), pp. 141–142

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Leaf blight

Leaf blight can cause up to 50% loss in severe cases. Non-chemical measures in the source: field-resistant varieties (Muktakeshi, Jankhri), early planting to avoid heavy monsoon rain, healthy planting material, removing self-grown taro plants, and treating seed tubers with Trichoderma viride. Fungicide sprays and chemical dips for aphids, mealybugs and scales are also listed — ask your officer before using them.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Taro – Leaf blight management, p. 146

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Pests and nematodes: non-chemical measures

Mealybug: release Cryptolaemus predatory beetles at 10 per tree. Fruit fly: collect and destroy fallen fruits and install methyl eugenol traps at 4 per acre. Neem oil 3% is listed against tea mosquito bug and fruit fly. Root-knot nematode spreads through infested planting material: use air layers and sterilised or soil-less media (vermiculite, coir pith) in the nursery, grow marigold around the basin, and apply Purpureocillium lilacinum 60 g with 5 kg FYM and 250 g neem cake per tree once in three months.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Guava – Plant protection (pests, nematodes), p. 29

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Pests and diseases: ask before you spray

The source lists chemical treatments for leaf miner, aphids, rust mite, fruit-sucking moth, shoot borer, citrus butterfly, psyllid, fruit fly, mealybugs, nematodes, twig blight, scab and canker, and growth-regulator sprays for fruit set. Choose any product only with your local Horticulture or Agriculture Officer.

Follow the instructions on the product label. Consult your local Agriculture Officer before use.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Acid Lime – Plant protection, pp. 15–16

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-04

Pests and diseases: ask before you spray

The source lists chemical treatments for mealybug. Choose any product only with your local Horticulture or Agriculture Officer.

Follow the instructions on the product label. Consult your local Agriculture Officer before use.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Pineapple – Plant protection, p. 30

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-05

Pests and diseases: ask before you spray

The source lists chemical sprays for chafer beetle, white grub, red scale, mealybug, thrips, aphids, leafhoppers, two-spotted mite, black spot and powdery mildew. Choose any product only with your local Horticulture or Agriculture Officer.

Follow the instructions on the product label. Consult your local Agriculture Officer before use.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Rose – Plant protection, pp. 248–249

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-05

Pests and diseases: non-chemical measures in the source

White stem borer (Arabica under poor shade): keep optimum shade; trace and uproot infested plants in March and September; pheromone traps (25/ha) if severe; rub off loose scaly bark. Berry borer: harvest on time and thoroughly, pick up gleanings and leftover berries, remove off-season berries, avoid excess shade, prune for ventilation, and dry berries to the right moisture (parchment 10%, Arabica cherry 10.5%, Robusta cherry 11%). Shot-hole borer: prune affected branches. Scales and mealybugs: release Cryptolaemus beetles (300 per acre). Black root rot: dig out and burn infected bushes, trench around the spot, and do not replant for 18 months. Chemical options for these and for rust, black rot and collar rot are also listed — ask your officer.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Coffee – Plant protection, pp. 199–200

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-05

Pests and diseases: non-chemical measures in the source

Mealybug: fish oil rosin soap 25 g/l and release of Cryptolaemus beetles (10 per tree). Pink disease: inspect trees in July–September and apply Bordeaux paste early; prune and burn dried branches. Brown root disease: open the roots and prune dead ones. Avoid rubber accumulating at the base of trees. Chemical and copper sprays for leaf fall, powdery mildew, leaf spots, bark canker and rots are also listed — ask your officer.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Rubber – Plant protection, pp. 210–211

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-05

Pests and diseases: non-chemical measures in the source

Tea mosquito bug: monitor regularly and remove alternate hosts such as neem, cashew and guava. Mealybug: monitor, remove weed hosts like Parthenium, destroy infested parts, use neem oil 2% for light attacks, and release Cryptolaemus beetles (10 per tree). Stem canker and pink disease: remove or prune affected parts and apply Bordeaux paste. Chemical sprays and rodent baits are also listed — ask your officer.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Horticulture Crops 2020 (Directorate of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Cocoa – Plant protection, pp. 206–207

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-05

Pests: non-chemical measures in the source

Tukra (pink mealybug): cut and burn affected shoots, release predatory beetles (Cryptolaemus 750/ha or Scymnus 1000/ha) or Chrysoperla eggs (2500/ha), and spray neem oil 3% with a wetting agent. Thrips: neem oil 3% is also listed. Leaf webber: irrigate right after pruning. Chemical sprays with waiting periods before feeding leaves to silkworms are also listed — ask your Sericulture or Agriculture Officer.

Source

Crop Production Guide – Agriculture 2020 (Directorate of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Sericulture – Mulberry pest and disease management, p. 365

Region

Tamil Nadu

Last updated

2026-11-05