Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)
Leaf gall thrips(Liothrips karnyi)
Symptoms
- Infestation by leaf gall thrips is more serious at higher altitudes, especially in younger vines and also in the nurseries.
- The feeding of thrips on tender leaves causes the leaf margins to curl down and inwards resulting in the formation of marginal leaf galls.
- The infested leaves become thick, malformed and crinkled
- Life stages of the insect can be seen within the gall.
- In severe cases of infestation, the growth of young vines is affected
Management
- Regulation of shade in the plantation reduces the population of the pest in the field.
- Spraying neem gold (0.6 per cent) (neem-based insecticide) during August, September and October is effective for the management of the pest. The underside of leaves (where adults are generally seen) and spikes are to be sprayed thoroughly
Chemical Control
| Sl.No | Generic Name | Trade Name | Color code | Dosage/litre | Recommendation | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dosage/acre (200 L) | Dosage/hectare (500 L) | ||||||
| 1 | Dimethoate 30 EC | Nugor, Rogor, Tagor, Tara 909 | yellow | 1.5 ml/litre of water | 300 ml | 750 ml | |
Extremely Toxic
Highly Toxic
Moderately Toxic
