Pests of Mango

Mango (Mangifera indica Linn.), an evergreen and widely cultivated fruit crop of tropical and subtropical regions, is attacked by about 400 insect and mite pests. However, only a few are of major economic importance. These include leafhoppers, stem borers, fruit flies, stone weevil, mealybugs, gall midges and others. Of them fruit flies and stone weevils are of quarantine importance and restrict the international trade of mangoes. Over the years, the pest complex of mango has undergone a sea-change, and select species have attained serious pest status from minor pest. For example, thrips, mites and blossom webbers have been emerging as potential threats to mango production in different parts of India. The pest distribution is also not uniform across the country with some species confining to specific zones. For instance, shoot gall psylla and giant mealybug are more common in the north compared to south India. Similarly, the red-banded caterpillar is restricted to eastern parts comprising coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and parts of West Bengal. Domestic quarantine has a role to play in preventing further spread of these pests. Though the integrated pest management (IPM) modules are in place for some pests, insecticides still remain the preferred option for farmers in mango pest management. In order to have a residue-free produce and to protect the biodiversity of orchard ecosystems, it is crucial that workable management strategies are evolved.