An exploration on Common agricultural pests include insects
Pushpanjali Kumari Singh
Zoology
September 2021
A significant problem for humanity is the danger posed by invasive and developing pests to food security. The likelihood of the introduction of exotic pests has grown due to growing worldwide commerce in agricultural products. One example is the papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink), which also includes the cotton mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley), the coconut mite (Aceria guerreronis Keifer), the serpentine leaf miner (Liriomyza trifolii Burgess), and the tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta (Meyrick)). In general, it is believed that insect pests reduce yields of important key food and cash crops by 15% to 20%. An emerging pest is one whose position has been shifting from minor to major or secondary to main pest. The last ten years have seen an increase in the severity of several pests, including Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) on cotton, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) on vegetables and pulses, Spodoptera litura (F.) on vegetables, cotton, and oilseeds, Pieris brassicae L. on crucifers, L. trifolii on vegetables, and Atherigonia spp. on spring maize. On wheat, barley, and oat, an increase in the occurrence of the aphid complex, which includes Sitobion avenae (F.), Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch, and Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), has been noted. In Northern India, mites from the families Eriophyiidae and Tetranychidae have become significant pests of bean, brinjal, cotton, cucurbits, okra, apple, ber, citrus, and mango. In all parts of India where pigeonpea and cowpea are grown, Maruca vitrata Geyer has become a major pest in recent years, inflicting up to 42% damage.
© Airo Journals 2021
