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Sugarcane Whitefly (Aleurolobus barodensis)

Aleurolobus barodensis Maskell is a serious sucking pest of sugarcane ratoon crops in north-coastal Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra under waterlogged, alkaline or drought-stressed conditions.

Identification and biology

  • Pest: Aleurolobus barodensis Maskell, Aleyrodidae
  • Preferred Conditions: ratoon crops; waterlogged/alkaline/drought-stressed cane
  • Best Treatment: leaf removal + imidacloprid 0.3 ml/L + 2% urea (~96.6% mortality)
  • Novel Delivery: ANGRAU Pushpak hexacopter UAV spraying

Management

Nymphs suck sap from leaf undersurfaces, reducing cane yield and sugar recovery. ICAR/ANGRAU-validated management combines removal of infested lower leaves with foliar imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 0.3 ml/L + 2% urea, giving up to 96.6% mortality; azadirachtin, pyrifluquinazon and dimethoate are also effective. Hexacopter UAV application (ANGRAU Pushpak) has shown promise for large fields.

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

References

  1. Management of Sugarcane Whitefly - ANGRAU/N coastal AP. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318816948
  2. AICRP-Sugarcane Entomology - ICAR-IISR. https://iisr.icar.gov.in/iisr/aicrp/pages/aicrp_entomology.htm