Identification, Symptoms and nature of damage: Shoot Gall Psyllid and Leaf gall midges

1. Identification, Symptoms and nature of damage: Shoot Gall Psyllid and Leaf gall midges Next

2. What are Galls? • Galls are abnormal growths of plant cells formed in response to egg-laying by adult insects or feeding by immatures. • Eggs are usually laid in actively growing plant tissue. • The effected plant tissue quickly surrounds the egg or immature insect, and protects and provides food for the gall-maker until it matures. • Gall-makers may live in individual or communal chambers inside the gall. End Previous Next

3. Mango Shoot gall psyllaApsyllacistellata(Homoptera : Psyllidae) • It is a serious pest of mango in northern India. It is reported from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Terrai regions of northern India. Source: www.agritech.tnau.ac.in End Previous Next

4. Identification • Adults: 3-4 mm long with black head and thorax and light brown abdomen. Membranous wings. • Nymphs: Freshly hatched nymphs are yellowish in colour, but change in size and colour with time Nymphs End Previous Next

5. Life Cycle • It has a single generation per year. • Adult females lay eggs into the midrib of leaves in March- April. • Eggs hatch after 200 days. • This pest creates green conical galls in leaf axis. • Five nymphal instars are present and nymphal period is 140 days. • Second instar nymph migrates to the already formed gall . • Adults may live up to 30-72 h. End Previous Next

6. Symptoms and Nature of damage • The activity of the pest starts from August. • The galls dry out after emergence of adults in March. • The adult females lay eggs in the midribs as well as in lateral axis of new leaves. • Nymphs emerge from eggs during August-September and crawl to the adjacent buds to suck cell sap. As a result of feeding, the buds develop into hard conical green galls. • The galls are usually seen during September-October. ] • Consequently, there is no fruit set. End Previous Next

7. Mango leaf gall midge Procontarinia spp(Diptera: Ceccidomydiae)Symptoms • Mango leaf gall midge produce wart-like galls on leaves resulting in reduced photosynthesis if left uncontrolled leading to leaf drop and lowered fruit production. • It is spread by wind currents and movement of infested plant material..  End Previous Next

8. Life Cycle • Midges are very small flies, 1-2 mm in length. • The female lays eggs into the tissue of young leaves leaving a small reddish spot. The leaf tissue under the red spot becomes swollen and soft. • Gall formation begins within seven days and attains a maximum diameter of 3-4 mm. • Adults usually emerge from the underside of the leaf leaving the pupal skin protruding from the emergence hole. End Previous Next

9. Summary • Nymphs of Mango Shoot gall psyllaApsyllacistellataemerge during August September and suck cell sap from adjacent buds. As a result of feeding, buds develop into hard conical green galls.The galls are usually seen during September-October.Consequently there is no flowering and fruit setting. Nymphs pass winter inside the galls. • Mango leaf gall midge produces wart-like galls on leaves resulting in reduced photosynthesis, leading to leaf drop and lowered fruit production. Younger trees may die while older trees fail to recover normal growth after repeated attacks. Previous