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Sugarcane Mealy Bug (Saccharicoccus sacchari)

The pink sugarcane mealybug Saccharicoccus sacchari Cockerell is a sap-sucking hemipteran (Pseudococcidae) infesting cane stalks under the leaf sheaths in Maharashtra, Karnataka, UP and AP.

Identification and biology

  • Pest: Saccharicoccus sacchari Cockerell, Pseudococcidae
  • Damage: sap-sucking under leaf sheaths; reduces cane and sucrose
  • Resistant Varieties: Co 439, Co 443, Co 720, Co 730, Co 7704
  • Biocontrol: Verticillium lecanii formulations

Management

Heavy infestations weaken plants and cut sucrose recovery. ICAR-recommended management combines resistant varieties (Co 439, Co 443, Co 720, Co 730, Co 7704), removal of lower dry leaves, avoidance of excess nitrogen, biological control with Verticillium lecanii (Amruth Alestra), and selective use of imidacloprid 17.8 SL or buprofezin 25 SC sprays at grand-growth stage.

See also: Sugarcane Crop, Jaggery Making Bellam, Sugarcane Ratoon Crop, Staggered Planting Sugarcane, Sugarcane Whitefly, Bagasse Fuel.

References

  1. AESA based IPM Sugarcane - NIPHM. https://niphm.gov.in/IPMPackages/Sugarcane.pdf
  2. Saccharicoccus sacchari CABI Compendium. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.45090