Major Pests of Carnation are:-
1.Carnation Red spider mite: Tetranychus urticae, T. cinnabarinus
Symptom of damage:
- Spider mite is the most serious pest on carnations
- Nymphs and adults suck the sap from undersurface of the leaves
- Affected leaves turn pale and have a dusty coating and fine webs. In severe attack the growth of the plants becomes stunted.
Management:
- Initiate management measures when the density of mite reaches 1/leaf (ETL).
- Use varieties having straight and flat leaves, which are proved to be resistant.
- Cleanliness and elimination of weeds will reduce the incidence of mite.
- Proper ventilation and water – prevent pest attack in greenhouse.
- Spraying of dicofol 18.5 EC @ 2 ml/l or wettable sulphur @ 3 g/l
- Spray application of chlorfenapyr 10 EC at 500 ml/ha (monthly interval)
- Fluvalinate 25 EC at 50 ml/ha also suppress T. cinnabarinus
2.Carnation Aphids: Aphis gossypii
Symptom of damage:
- Nymphs and adults suck the sap and feeds on flower buds, leaves and terminal shoots
- It also transmits mottle virus.
Identification of the pest:
- Globular yellowish green to brown or black in colour
Management:
- Spray dimethoate 30 EC @ 1 ml/l of water before the opening of flower.
3.Carnation Thrips: Thrips tabaci
Symptom of damage:
- Nymphs and adults suck the sap from leaves
- Plants become yellow often with black specks and slight crinkling.
- In a severe attack, the growth of the plant is adversely affected.
- Streaks on the flowers making them unmarketable.
Identification of the pest:
- T. tabaci – nymphs and adults are pale yellowish in colour
Management:
- Spray dimethoate 30 EC @ 1 ml/l or fenitrothion 50 EC @ 1 ml/l or malathion 50 EC @ 1 ml/l of water.
4.Carnation tortrix moth: Tortrix pronubata
Symptom of damage:
- Caterpillar webs the leaves with silken threads and feed inside the shelter.
- Injury – found around the growing points of the shoots
- larvae will feed on the leaves and may also bore into the flower buds.
Management:
- A mixture of carbaryl and dicofol is recommended for the control of larvae of tortrix moth in nurseries and beds.
5.Carnation fly: Hylemya briennescens
Symptom of damage:
- Maggots bore into the leaves and growing tips of young plants
- The death of young plants by tunnelling down the apical shoot.
Management:
- Apply carbaryl 4G or phorate 10G @ 10 kg/ha to the soil followed by light irrigation.
- Spray malathion 50 EC @ 2 ml/l of water.
Source-
- TamilNadu Agritech Portal
