Control of pineapple mealy bug

Control of pineapple mealy bug Pineapple mealy bug is a major pest occurring wherever pineapple is grown.

It is root feeding insect, yet some colonies are found on the basal portion of leaves and fruits.

The pest sucks the sap and simultaneously injects saliva containing wilt virus, inflicting heavy losses.

The first symptoms of the disease appear in the roots which cease to grow, collapse and then rot. An apparently flourishing crop will show the symptoms earlier than a slow growing poor crop.

Quick wilt

This is known as quick wilt. The discolouration of leaves to reddish yellow and stunted growth affects the size and weight of fruits.

Honeydew secreted by mealy bugs attracts ants which cause the spread of this pest. The mealy bugs live in underground colonies with only a small proportion living on the leaves.

Shape of the bug

The bugs are oval in shape with distinct segmentation and covered with white filamentous waxy secretion. Each female bug lays around 300 eggs which hatch in a couple of days and the emerging nymphs start sucking the sap and develop into adults in about 50 days.

Pest management

Resistant varieties should be selected for propagation. Planting of healthy cuttings (slips) of pineapple is suggested. Destroy grasses and other monocot weeds which serve as alternative hosts for the pest.

Pruning and burning of the infested plant parts is very effective. Fumigate the infested suckers of pineapple. Dip the cuttings in chlorpyrifos, endosulfan or malathion emulsion before planting.

For the control of mealy bugs control of ants is a must. Hence application of carbaryl dust around the collar region of the plant is a necessity. A layer of mulch and irrigation should also be provided around the infested plant after treatment.

Spray 0.05 per cent of fenitrothion or fenthion or diazinon. Care should be taken to spray the base and sides of the plant.