Nymphs and adults suck sap from leaves, leading to honeydew excretion, which causes sooty mold fungus to develop
White chalk powder coating visible on the ground and leaves
Their bodies covered in white wooly secretion.
Management
Avoid use of infested cane for seed purpose.
De-trashing of canes if infestation exceeds low intensity and remove water shoots.
Adopt paired row system of planting.
Avoid excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers.
Field release biocontrol agents like Dipha aphidivora, Micromus and coccinellids. Spray Metarrhizium anisopliae or Lecanicillium lecanii or Beauveria bassiana (10 gram/ litre of water).
