Indian Journal of Entomology

Open Access
SCOPUSWeb of Science
  • Year: 2018
  • Volume: 80
  • Issue: 2

Pest complex, biology and population dynamics of insect pests of ginger in northeast India

School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies (Central Agricultural University), Umiam, 793103, Meghalaya

1Division of Crop Protection, ICAR Research Complex for NEH region, Umiam, 793103

Abstract

Insect pests are one of the most important constraints in the cultivation of ginger, Zingiber officinale (Rosc.) in Meghalaya. Although, ginger is a important cash crop in Meghalaya, the detailed information on pest complex of ginger and their population dynamics is lacking, which is crucial to formulate effective IPM strategies. Thus, a field experiment was conducted during 2013–2014 to study the ginger pest complex, their biology, and population dynamics. The rhizome fly (Mimegralla coeruleifrons complex), shoot borer (Conogethes (=Dichocrocis) punctiferalis), rhizome mealy bug (Formicoccocus polysperes), white grub (Holotrichia spp.), rhizome weevil (Prodioctes haematicus) were recorded as pests. In addition, infestation of rhizome scale (Aspidiotus hartii) and termite (Odontotermes obesus) were also observed at the time of harvesting. Weather parameters, particularly temperature and rainfall were found to have significant impact on pest populations.

Keywords

Zingiber officinale, northeast India, pest complex, rhizome fly, shoot borer, mealy bug, white grub, rhizome weevil, scale, termite