New Host Record of Formicococcus polysperes Williams (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae): An Emerging Pest of Taro Colocasia esc
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New Host Record of Formicococcus polysperes Williams (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae): An Emerging Pest of Taro Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott from India Jaydeep Halder1 • Waluniba2 • Sunil Joshi3 • Aastik Jha2 • A. B. Rai4
Received: 27 December 2018 / Revised: 2 December 2019 / Accepted: 9 January 2020 The National Academy of Sciences, India 2020
Abstract The mealybug Formicococcus polysperes Williams (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) was reported for the first time attacking rhizomes of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott from Nagaland state, India. In initial infestation, the tender rhizomes were observed to be covered with whitish powdery mass of mealybugs. In severe infestation, the entire underground portions of the plant were covered with mealybugs along with the black sooty mould in patches on plant parts. The infected plants showed symptoms of yellowing and withering of leaves accompanied with underdeveloped rhizomes which eventually dried prematurely. Results on survey of fields and a nearby storage facility revealed up to 52% crop loss due to its infestation. Among the eighteen genotype screened against F. polysperes, none of the genotype was found to be tolerant as & Jaydeep Halder [email protected] Waluniba [email protected] Sunil Joshi [email protected] Aastik Jha [email protected] A. B. Rai [email protected] 1
ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221305, India
2
School of Agriculture Science and Rural Development, Nagaland University, Medziphema, Nagaland 797106, India
3
ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560024, India
4
Crop Protection Division, ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221305, India
average number of mealybug population ranged between 310 and 588 per rhizome (30–40 g weight). In this paper, we describe the damage symptoms, results of host screening and the diagnostic morphological characteristics of F. polysperes to facilitate its quick and reliable identity in future. Keywords Colocasia esculenta Formicococcus polysperes First record Damage Screening Morphological characters
Taro or Cocoyam Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott belongs to the family Araceae and is a widely distributed important staple food crop in many developing countries. In India, it is grown in many states including north-eastern states Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura. In north-eastern states, particularly Nagaland it is grown as popular Kharif and Rabi crops both in plains as well as in hilly areas. Local tribe often store its rhizome for off-season vegetable particularly during rainy season. Its tuber is very rich in carbohydrates and crude fibre. Taro is also a good source of thiamin, riboflavin, iron, phosphorus and zinc and is rich in vitamin B6, vitamin C, niacin, potassium, copper and manganese [1]. Insect pests and diseases are the major biotic constraints for vegetable production in the country. The crop losses in the country due to various insect pests range on an
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