Major pests of Anthurium are:-
1. Anthurium Aphid: Myzus circumflexus
Symptom of damage:
- Nymphs and adults suck the plant sap
- Yellowing and distortion of leaves and poor growth.
- Honeydew excretion causes black sooty mould fungus.
Management:
- Spraying of any following insecticides
- dicofol 2ml/lit
- malathion 2ml/lit
- phosphomidon 2ml/lit
- A formulation containing pyrethrum extract gave effective control
- Field release of parasitic wasp Aphidius colemani 5/m2 per week
2.Anthurium Thrips: Chaetanaphothrips orchidii
Symptoms of damage:
- Nymphs and adults suck the sap from leaves
- Mottled effect on foliage and flowers.
Management:
- In netted areas, insecticide granules are very effective in decreasing injury to flowers by C. orchidii
- Foliar sprays cyfluthrin 2.0 EC and chlorpyriphos 1ml/lit are effective in reducing the number of injured flowers.
- Spraying of dimethoate 30 EC @ 1 ml/l also controls thrips.
- Field release of predatory mite Amblyseius cucumeris 500,000/ha.
3.Anthurium Whitefly: Bemisia tabaci, Aleurotulus anthuricola
Symptom of damage:
- Nymphs and adults suck the sap from leaves.
Management:
- Systemic insecticides like methomyl 1.8 L or dimethoate 30 EC ( reduced eggs, nymphs, pupae and adults.)
- Malathion 50 EC is effective against adults and pupae.
- Bifenthrin 10 WP was effective only against adults.
- Methomyl 1.8 L and acephate 75 SP reduced the number of nymphs and pupae
- Field release of parasitic wasp – Encarsia formosa 3/m2 can be followed.
4.Anthurium Red spider mite: Tetranychus cinnabarinus
Symptom of damage:
- Spider mite causes – yellowish mottling of the leaves
- Leaves shrivel and turn brown.
- A fine web spun on the undersurface of leaves.
Identification of the pest:
- Nymphs and adults are red in colour.
- Eggs are laid on the ventral surface of the leaves and are whitish, spherical in shape
Management:
- Spraying the affected plants with dicofol 18.5 EC @ 0.8 ml/l of water.
- Field release of predatory mite – Phytoseiulus persimilis 6/ m2.
Source-
- TamilNadu Agritech Portal
