Whitefly eats into coconut trees, agri crops in Telangana & AP

An alien invasive crop pest, the Rugose Spiralling Whitefly (RSW), is wreaking havoc on a large number of coconut groves, banana plantations and other horticulture and agricutural crops across Andhra Pradesh and Sattupally and Khammam districts in Telangana.

 

Native to Belize in Central America, the pest was first reported in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in July 2016. Experts have classified RSW as a destructive pest that mainly threatens coconut plantations. “The species has damaged coconut trees across large areas and is attacking other host plants as well,” Dr S J Rahman, principal scientist, All India Coordinated Research Project on Biological Control of Crop Pests said.
 

According to Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Plantation Crop Research Institute (ICAR-CPCRI), the pest has destroyed 200 host plants in the coconut-producing states of south India, raising serious concerns.

The insect, which derives its name from its egg-laying pattern, is a tiny insect measuring up to 2 mm in length that sucks out sap from under the leaves, inducing stress on the host plant from the loss of water and nutrients. The honeydew excreted by the fly attracts ants and encourages the growth of fungus, thus affecting the plant.

Scientists said that in many cases, economic losses resulting from whitefly infestations are limited and that deficit monsoon due to climate change is one of the key reasons behind the growing pest attacks.

Biological control by parasitic insects, such as Encarsia, lady beetles and spiders, has been found to be effective against RSW. The agricultural department has suggested application of starch solution, installation of sticky traps and spraying of neem oil to kill the pests.