PAPAYA PLANT INFESTED BY MEALY BUG

      The state Agriculture Department will release parasitoids shortly in its attempt to curb the crop destruction caused by Papaya mealy bug an invasive pest.

     The parasitoids, multiplied in the laboratories of the Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture,Kerala Agricultural University will be released  on December 9 at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Malappuram.

     They will be released in areas where the infestation has been reported most. The department is also planning to hand over nucleus cultures to the principal agricultural officers in all the districts and heads of research organizations free of cost for release, according to a communication from the university.

      The bug is an invasive insect pest infesting more than seventy species of host plants, including vegetables, fruits, ornamental plants,plantations forest and other non crop plants in Kerala. though the presence of the species was first recorded in early 2009 in Kerala, the state later witnessed a phenomenal spread in population.

Prof John Kurakar