Midges have become a serious threat to mango production in Pakistan. They are
known to attack various parts of mango plant including bark, shoots, leaves,
florescence buds, axis of inflorescence panicles, flower and newly formed fruit.
The heavily infested leaves fall. Midges attack on leaves is also considered to
make way to entry of anthracnose inoculum Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
(Penzig) Penzig and Saccardo. Shoots heavily infested with midges bear less
inflorescences resulting in low yields of mango fruit. Midges also do direct
damage to fruit. During the present studies last year it was found that more than
35% newly set fruit were lost by feeding of larvae of midges
Midges were recorded in most mango growing areas of Pakistan and were
comparatively abundant at Rahim Yar Khan, Multan and Bahawalpur. At present
farmers are relying on pesticides sprays for their control and no alternate
measures have so far been proposed to them. Present investigations aim at
collecting basic information on their biology, phenology, population trends and
natural enemies of midges and study the impact of a combination of control
measures which enhance the natural control of the pest leaving behind little need
of pesticides spraying for their control.
During the present report period survey of mango midges and their natural
enemies was extended besides Rahim Yar Khan and Multan to Bhawalpur and
Lahore. Studies were continued on distribution, biology, phenology, population
trends and assessment of losses incurred by midges. Experiments were started
on mass rearing, monitoring and management of midges. Effect of neem on
control of midges and role of attraction of mango leaves
29 авг 2024
