STATUS OF POMEGRANATE PESTS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN INDIA

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the important fruit crops in India and is being cultivated in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Thorough scanning of literature revealed a total of 91 insects, 6 mites and 1 snail pest feeding on pomegranate crop in India. The most obnoxious enemy is pomegranate butterfly, Deudorix (=Virachola) isocrates Fab. which may destroy more than 50% of fruits. Next in the order are the three species of fruit sucking moths (Eudocima (=Othreis) fullonia (Clerk); Eudocima (=Othreis) materna (Linn.); Eudocima (=Othreis) homaena Hub.) and two species of bark eating caterpillars (Indarbela tetraonis (Moore); Indarbela quadrinotata (Walker)). In the recent past two species of pomegranate shot hole borers (Xyleborus fornicatus E.; X. perforans Wollastan) have become major pests infesting in the collar region of the plant by making innumerable pin or shot holes causing discontinuity in the conducting vessels affecting conduction of water to the upper portion of the plant. Consequently, the drying of the twigs became imminent. The drying progressed from the tip towards the base and in severe cases the entire plant dried up. Overuse and improper use of insecticides has led to many serious problems like whiteflies (Pomegranate whitefly, Siphoninus phillyreae (Haliday); Spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus dispersus Russell) mealy bug (Pseudococcus lilacinus (Cockerell)) Thrips (Rhipiphorothrips cruentatus Hood; Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood; Anaphothrips oligochaetus Karny), aphid (Aphis punicae (Passerini)) and mites, Aceria granati Can. & Massal; Oligonychus punicae (Hirst.)). These sucking pests occur during the flowering and fruiting stage of the crop and thereby reduce the vigour of the plant in addition to excretion of honeydew on the leaves and develop-ment of sooty mould on leaves and fruits. Besides, termites, Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) and root grubs (Anomala dimidiata (Hope); Holotrichia spp.) attack roots, defoliators feed on foliage and few bugs, borers, moths and fruit flies damage the fruits. The nature of damage and management options of a few key pests are discussed in this paper.