Blossom Midge ( બલોસમ મીજ- કૂલભમરી )
Farmers, Mango orchards in Saurashtra area are infested with a pest called Blossom Midge. Mango production of this pest is well damaged and timely control can save the crop from damage.
Pests
The female lays her eggs between the leaves and the buds. The caterpillars that hatch from the eggs enter the tissues, and form small bulging tumors. These caterpillars stay inside the nodes until they are fully developed and grow inside the trench. Fully developed caterpillars burrow out of the hole and fall to the ground making cocoons inside the ground. Damage to new buds as well as inflorescences continues after the flowering stage is complete. Damage to a flower stem depends on the number of caterpillars inside. An inch long peacock stem can hold up to 100 caterpillars. When fully grown caterpillars burrow out of the stem, black holes appear.
Read in Gujarati(ગુજરાતીમાં વાંચો)
Black spots are a sign of damage caused by this pest. When there is more infestation, the stem of the damaged peacock becomes deformed and turns to one side, and holes can be seen for caterpillars to emerge. In the latter case the pest also damages the newly bound maggots. At this stage maximum damage is done to the crop. After the caterpillars enter the uterus of the flower, a trench develops inside the growing fruit. The holes made in the maggia by the caterpillar are found on the underside of the maggot's ditia which is blackish in color. Damaged magio (small fruits) turn yellow and become deformed. Growth stagnates and eventually falls apart. The damage of this pest is more prevalent in mango blooms during December to March. As a result, mango production is reduced and economic losses are incurred.
Control
(1) Deep tillage in mango orchards and cultivating in khamana will destroy the seed pods coming out of the soil.
(2) Maintaining the cleanliness of the garden. Destroy more damaged early peacock stems as well as damaged leaves.
Read in Gujarati(ગુજરાતીમાં વાંચો)
(3) For chemical control of this pest, phosphamidon 20%, medicine 2 ml. Or DDVP 3 ml. Or dimethoate 15 ml. Or phenytoin 10 ml. Or quinalphos 20 ml. Or Methyl O Dometon 10 ml. Mix the drug in 10 liters of water and spray. Sprinkling should be done at the time of flowering. Effective control is obtained if spraying is done especially after 3 pm. At the time of flowering in mango, apply a soil treatment such as methyl parathion 3% on the soil under the tree to kill the caterpillar caterpillars as well as the adult wasps.