Objectives

• Identification of natural enemy complex of scale insects infesting black pepper.
• Biology of major natural enemies
• Standardization of techniques for mass rearing of natural enemies.
• Field release and evaluation of efficacy of natural enemies.
• Integration of biological control with other methods of control.
• The toxicity of plant and organic products like neem oil 0.3% and 0.6%, Neemgold 0.6% and fish oil rosin 3% to L.piperis and A.destructor was determined along with the insecticides monocrotophos 0.1% and dimethoate 0.1%.

Salient Achievements

• 21 species/genera of natural enemies were recorded on Lepidosaphes piperis and Aspidiotus destructor, two major species of scale insects infesting black pepper in India, among which Mallada boninensis, Chilocorus nigrita, Pseudoscymnus sp., Adelencyrtus sp., Aphytis sp. and Encarsia citrina were new records.
• The feeding potential of Chilocorus spp. on L. piperis and A.destructor was determined and C.nigrita and C.circumdatus were identified to be potential biocontrol agents of scale insects. The biology of C.nigrita and C.circumdatus was also studied
• Techniques were standardized for mass rearing of C.nigrita and C.circumdatus in the laboratory.
• Evaluation of C.nigrita in the field for the control of L.piperis indicated that release of 125 eggs per vine(5 releases at 7-10 day intervals) during April-May reduced the population of scale insects by 45 per cent.
• Evaluation of C.circumdatus in the field for the control of A.destructor indicated that release of 85 larvae per vine(5 releases at 7-10 day intervals) during October-December reduced the population of scale insects by 69-92 per cent
• The toxicity of monocrotophos 0.1%, dimethoate 0.1%, neem oil 0.3% and 0.6%, Neemgold 0.6% and fish oil rosin 3% to C.nigrita and C.circumdatus was determined.

Research Papers

1. Natural enemies of two major species of Scale insects infesting black pepper (piper nigrum l.) in India