Tüm Yazılar
What is Mealybug?
Mealybug is a pest that harms many plant species, especially citrus fruits. These insects feed by sucking the sap of plants, and in this process, they can cause plants to weaken, growth to stop, and even the death of plants. It is commonly seen in plants such as citrus, figs, vines, and pomegranates. Mealybugs can prevent photosynthesis and disrupt the general health of plants by forming a thick white wax layer on them. Additionally, the honeydew substances secreted by these insects can cause the formation of a black fungus called sooty mold. Sooty mold further reduces the photosynthesis capacity of plants, lowering product quality. These organisms go through different development periods depending on environmental conditions and generally live in colonies. Therefore, they can spread rapidly in gardens or agricultural areas. When not controlled, they can cause serious economic losses in plants. Cultural, biological, and chemical control methods can be used to effectively control mealybugs.
Why Does Mealybug Occur?
In Which Plants is Mealybug Seen?
Mealybugs are pests that can cause damage to various plant species. Here are the plant species where mealybugs are frequently seen:
Citrus fruits
Fig
Vine (Grape)
Pomegranate
Greenhouse Plants
Ornamental Plants
Vegetables (Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant)
Bean
Cotton
Mealybugs can disrupt the health of these plants and lower product quality by performing intense sucking.
How to Combat Mealybug?
Cultural Measures:
- Clean weeds in the garden.
- Perform tillage operations at appropriate times.
- When pruning, be careful that the crowns of the trees do not touch each other.
- Provide sunlight and airflow.
Biological Control:
- Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Leptomastix dactiilopii are natural enemies of mealybugs. Biological control can be done by releasing these beneficial insects into gardens infested with mealybugs.
- If there are natural enemies in the gardens, the mealybug population can be kept under control.
Control and Release:
- Check the garden every 15 days starting from mid-April.
- If 5-8% infestation is detected, release 2-3 predators and 10 parasitoids per tree.
- If there is 15% infestation in August, give 4-5 predators and 10 parasitoids per tree.
- In gardens with 20% infestation, release 10 predators and 20 parasitoids per tree from September to November.
Ant Control:
- Before releasing beneficial insects, treat the root collars of the trees with ant-killing powder pesticide.
- Prevent ant activity by pruning the branch tips of the trees that touch the ground.
Chemical Control:
- In gardens where biological control is not performed, carry out chemical control with licensed pesticides when the fruits are the size of hazelnuts.
- In gardens with high populations, chemical control can be applied to reduce the population before biological control.
Yorumlar