Field infestation

• Field infestation Plants look devitalized, pale and withered before drying completely. In such cases at the time of harvest minute yellowish crawlers can be seen moving in large numbers and this is the potential stage of dissemination.

• Plants look devitalized, pale and withered before drying completely.
• In such cases at the time of harvest minute yellowish crawlers can be seen moving in large numbers and this is the potential stage of dissemination.

Identification of pest:

Storage infestation

• In Initial stage of infestation in, the white coloured scales are seen scattered on rhizomes and latter they congregate near the growing buds.
• When the infestation is severe the rhizome and buds shrivel and ultimately the entire rhizome dries.

Adult

• Female : scales are circular (about 1mm diameter) and light brown to gray and appear as encrustations on the rhizomes.
• Male is orange coloured with transparent wings, distinct head, thorax and abdomen.

• Discard and do not store severely infested rhizomes
• Collect and destroy damaged leaves
• Select healthy rhizomes free from scale infestation for seed materials
• Treat seed material with quinalphos 0.075% (for 20-30 minutes) before storage and also before sowing in case the infestation persists.
• Apply well rotten sheep manure @ 10 t/ ha in two splits or poultry manure in 2 splits followed by drenching dimethoate 30 EC @ 2 ml or phosalone 35 EC @ 2ml /lit of water