Pests of Cashew_Bionomics_IPM_Dr.UPR.pdf

Cashew trees (Anacardium occidentale) are susceptible to a variety of pests that can affect their growth, yield, and quality of the nuts. The main pests that target cashew trees include both insects and mites, as well as some larger animals. Here are some of the most common pests of cashew trees:

1. Cashew Stem and Root Borer (Oryctes rhinoceros)
Description: This is a major pest in cashew plantations. The adult beetle bores into the stem and roots of the tree, causing damage that can lead to weakening of the tree and eventual death.
Damage: Root and stem damage reduces the tree's ability to absorb water and nutrients, leading to stunted growth or death.
Control: Use of insecticides, biological control (e.g., predators or parasitoids), and physical barriers to prevent infestation.
2. Cashew Nut Borer (Helicoverpa armigera)
Description: The larvae of this moth feed on the cashew nuts and can significantly reduce yield and quality.
Damage: The larvae bore into the cashew nuts, leading to rot, discoloration, and a decrease in quality. This can make the nuts unfit for sale.
Control: Pesticides, biological control, and careful monitoring of flowering and fruiting stages to target the pest before damage occurs.
3. Leaf Miner (Liriomyza spp.)
Description: These small flies cause damage to cashew trees by laying eggs on the leaves. The larvae tunnel into the leaf tissue, creating characteristic "mines."
Damage: Mining can cause wilting, yellowing, and premature dropping of leaves, which reduces photosynthesis and weakens the tree.
Control: Insecticides, use of resistant varieties, and removing and destroying infested leaves.
4. Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)
Description: Whiteflies are small, winged insects that feed on the sap of cashew trees, and they also transmit viral diseases.
Damage: They cause leaf curling, chlorosis (yellowing), and stunted growth. Additionally, they excrete honeydew, which can lead to sooty mold growth.
Control: Application of insecticides, biological control (e.g., parasitic wasps), and encouraging natural predators like ladybugs.
5. Red Gum Lerp Psyllid (Glycaspis brimblecombei)
Description: This pest attacks the leaves, producing a characteristic white, waxy covering that resembles a "lerp."
Damage: Psyllid feeding can cause leaf distortion, yellowing, and premature leaf drop.
Control: Pruning affected branches, spraying with insecticidal soap or neem oil, and encouraging natural predators like birds and beneficial insects.
6. Mealybug (Planococcus spp.)
Description: Mealybugs are soft-bodied insects that infest the stems, leaves, and fruit of cashew trees.
Damage: They suck sap from the plant, leading to wilting, reduced growth, and honeydew secretion that attracts fungal growth (sooty mold).
Control: Chemical control with insecticides, neem oil, or biological control agents such as parasitic wasps.

1. Pests of Cashew
By
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD.
Assistant Professor (Entomology)
JSACAT
Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

2. Stem and root borer, Plocaederusferrugineus,
Cerambycidae, Coleoptera
1
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Symptomsofdamage
•Presenceofsmallboreholesandextrusionof
frassatthecollarregion.Oozingofgumatthe
baseofcashewtreetrunk.Extensive
tunnellinginthestemandrootregionin
irregularfashion
•Asaresultofdamagethesupplyofwaterand
nutrientsisarrested.Finallyleadstothedeath
ofthetree.Affectedtreesalsotiltononeside
duetolossofanchorage,iftheinjuryis
severeonanchoringroots

3. The adult is a medium sized (25-40
mm long), reddish-brown long
horned beetle
The grown up grubs are off-white in
color measuring about 7-10 cm in
length
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

4. Management
•Undertakeperiodicalcleaningofcollarregion,removalofgrubs,pupaeand
eggs
•Uprootandremovedeadtreesfromtheplantation
•Swabthebarkoftheexposedrootsandshootswithcarbaryl50WP2g/Lor
lindane20EC1ml/L
•Swabbingwithkerosene:coaltarmixture(1:2)uptoonemetreheightonthe
trunktopreventegglaying.
•Root-feedingwithmonocrotophos(10ml)+water(10ml)inasmallpolythene
bagtwiceayearonbothsidesofthetrunk.
•Paddingmethod-remove5cmsq.barkat30cmfromthebase,place
absorbentcottondippedin10mlmonocrtophos36SLandcoverwithmud
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

5. Tea mosquito bug, Helopeltisantonii, Miridae,
Hemiptera
2
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Distribution and status: Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu
Damagesymptoms
•Bothnymphsandadultsofthismiridbugsucksap
fromthetenderflushes,youngshoots,inflorescence,
panicles,growingyoungnutsandapples.
•Heavilyinfestedtreesshowscorchedappearance,
leadingtothedeathofshootsandgrowingtips.
•Severelyaffectedbranchesmayleadtothesecondary
infectionbyfungus(Botrydiplodiatheobromae)
causingdiebackdisease.

6. Female inserts 32 eggs into
epidermis of tender shoot, axis
of inflorescence and tender
fruits, egg period 7-8 days,
eggs elongated and slightly
curved with a pair of filaments
Nympalperiod 14-16 days
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

7. Management
•Undertakepruningtoregulatetheshadeto
facilitateproperpenetrationofsunlightinsidethe
canopy
•Monocrotophos36SL3.0Latnewflushformation.
•Spraycarbaryl50WP3.0KgIn1500-2000Lof
waterperha+Urea3%atflowerinitiationand
againatfruitingtime
•Donotinterplantcashewwithcropsthatarehost
forHelopeltisbugs,suchascotton,tea,sweet
potato,guavaandmangoAdult
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

8. 3Leaf miner, Acrocercopssyngramma, Gracillaridae,
Lepidoptera
The epidermal cuticle
swells in the mined area,
appearing as whitish
blisterson the leaf
surface
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Adult is silvery grey moth with fringes of
hairs on the wing margins

9. Shoot and blossom webber, Lamidamoncusalis,
Pyraustidae, Lepidoptera
4
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Presenceofwebonthe
terminalportionsofnew
shootsandblossomis
theinitialsymptomof
infestation
The caterpillarsare
remaininginsidetheweb
andfeedonthem.The
incidenceisfoundsevere
mostlyonyoungtrees

10. Apple borer or Chickoomoth, Nephopteryx
eugraphella, Phycitidae, Lepidoptera
5
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Damagesymptoms
Thelarvamakesbore
holesonthetender
cashew apple.The
larvaisdarkpinkand
theadultismedium
sizedmothwithdark
forewingsandpale
hindwings

11. Shoot and Inflorescence caterpillar, Hypatima
haligramma, Gelichiidae, Lepidoptera
6
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Thelarvacauseswebbingof
tenderleavesandinflorescence.
Attackedshootsdieandpanicle
formationsuppressed.Larvae
alsodamagetenderapples

12. Flower thrips, Rhynchothrips raoensis, Foliage thrips,
Selenothripsrubrocinctus,Thripidae, Thysanoptera
7
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Asaresultoftheirraspingandsucking
activity,theleavesbecomepalebrown,
scabonfloralbranches,applesand
nuts,formscorkylayersontheaffected
parts
Inseverecasestherewillbesheddingof
leavesandstuntingofgrowthoftrees
Theyareminute,slender,fragile,soft
bodied,fastmovinginsectsandadults
havefringedwings
Rhynchothrips raoensis S. rubrocinctus
Leaf damage Fruit damage

13. Bark borer, Indarbela tetraonis, Cossidae,
Lepidoptera
8
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Thelarvacauses
zig-zag galleries
andsilkenwebbed
massescomprising
ofchewedmaterial
andexcretaof
larva

14. Management
•Killthecaterpillarsbyinsertinganironhookintothe
tunnels
•Injectingethyleneglycolandkeroseneoilintheratioof
1:3intothetunnelbymeansofasyringeandthensealthe
openingofthetunnelwithmud
•Dipasmallpieceofcottoninanyofthefumigants,like
chloroformorpetrolorkerosene,introduceintothetunnel
andsealtheopeningwithclayormud
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

15. Slug caterpillar, Parasa lepida, Cochlididae,
Lepdioptera
9
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Defoliationandlarva
leavingonlythe
midribandveins.
Larvahasgreenish
bodywithwhitelines
andfourrowsof
spinyscolitipped
redorblack,which
causeirritationand
pain Adult moth has green wings with prominent dark patch at the base
of each forewing

16. Leaf feeder, Cricula trifenestrata, Saturniidae,
Lepidoptera
10
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Stout,darkbrown
wildsilkcaterpillar
appears inlarge
numberssporadically
andcauseextensive
defoliationoftrees
reducing panicle
emergence

17. Looper, Oenospila flavisucata, Geometridae,
Lepidoptera
11
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Larvaefeedontender
leavesbyrollingthem
Theypupateinrolled
leaves

18. Apple and Nut borer, Thylocoptila paurosema,
Pyralidae, Lepidoptera
12
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Thecaterpillarsattackthefruitsatallthe
stagesandcauseshrivellingandpre
maturefallofnuts
Intheearlystages,theyounglarvae
movetothejointsofnutandapple
scrapetheepidermis
Inlaterstages,theyboreintotender
applesandnutsandfeedonthem
The adult is a medium sized moth with dark forewings