Integrated pest management and monitoring techniques for mango pests

A good sampling and monitoring program for insects and mites is essential for implementing an integrated pest management program for mango pests. While some progress has been made for individual species, precise and pro-active sampling programs in mango agroecosystems continue to be in their infancy. Mango flowers are attacked by midges, leafhoppers, caterpillars, thrips, as well as mites. A sequential sampling plan for monitoring hopper populations has been developed in India, whereas sampling techniques for the mango blister midge or mango gall midge, Erosomyia mangiferae Felt, and Dasyneura mangiferae (Felt) are unknown. Fruit fly numbers are easily monitored with pheromone traps, although trap catches have not been related to the risk to the crop in different areas. Intra-tree distribution, sampling techniques for mango seed weevils, Sternochetus mangiferae (F.) and S. gravis (F.) have been developed. Sampling techniques and thresholds for pests of leaves and buds i.e., gall midges Protocontarinia matteiana Kieffer and Cecconi, Erosomyia spp., and Procontarinia schreineri Harris are seldom practiced. The mango bud mite, Aceria [Eriophyes] mangiferae Sayed, attacks buds of terminals. Because of the difficulty to assess mite densities in the field, the relationship between bud proliferation and mite densities could be used to determine action levels. The spatial distribution of Rastrococcus invadens Williams a polyphagous mealybug infesting leaves, flowers and fruits was studied by Boavida et al. (1992) who developed binomial sampling plans for estimating population levels. Because many mangoes are destined for export, the sampling intensity and knowledge of action thresholds must be considered in order to provide a high quality fruit.