Mealy bug (Dysmicoccus finitimus )

Symptoms

• Mealy bugs infest the unopened heartleaf and inflorescence.
• As a result, the leaves become highly stunted, suppressed, deformed and present a crinkled appearance
• The affected inflorescences are malformed and do not open. Even if they open, they do not bear nuts.
• Button mealy bugs colonize under the perianth lobes of tender nuts.
• Infested nuts harbouring gravid mealy bugs remain on the spadix, which serve as inoculum for further spread.

Management

• Remove and destroy all dried up inflorescence and unproductive buttons.
• Neem garlic emulsion 2% applied on infested bunches checks button mealy bugs