Management of Sugarcane Woolly Aphid, Ceratovacuna lanigera

• Careful removal and destruction of infested leaves at very initial stage during summer season.
• Soil application of phorate 10G @ 10 kg or carbofuron 3G @ 30 kg /ha in infested crop not more than six months old. The granule should applied with due precautions, along the row side at the base of the plant fallowed by light irrigation, if required.
• Paired row planting and wider row planting of cane to facilitate the pest management strategies.
• Augmentation/colonization of effective predators viz, Dipha aphidivara and Micromus timidus in the infested sugarcane fields through mass breeding or their collection from higher population areas and subsequent release to the low or nil population areas.
• Management of agro-ecosystem which discourages the pest build-up like balanced use of fertilizers, avoiding excess irrigation, proper drainage, inter cropping and planting of least susceptible/resistant varieties.
• Use of less hazardous insecticides where natural enemies are prevalent. (Metasystox 20 EC or endosulfan 35 EC @ 0.05% spray at 15-20 days interval).

 

Suggested by IISR (Annual Report 2004-05)