Colocasia / Taro (Colocasia esculenta)

Mealy bugs (Planococcus spp.)

Symptoms

  • Mealy bugs suck sap from tender leaves, petioles and fruits.
  • Seriously attacked leaves turn yellow and eventually dry
  • Shedding of leaves, inflorescences and young fruit.
  • Mealy bugs excrete honeydew on which sooty mould develop

Management

  • Destroy affected plant parts at the beginning of the infestation
  • Apply Mineral oils or Neem garlic emulsion (10-20ml/L of water)