The Mango Bark Borer, Indarbela tetraonis, and Indarbela quadrinotata, belonging to the Family Metarbelidae of the Order Lepidoptera, are also known as Bark Eating Caterpillars. This pest is native to India. The Mango bark borer’s larvae feed on mango tree bark, creating tunnels that can weaken and even kill the tree. The larvae also feed on the phloem and xylem of the tree, reducing the tree’s ability to transport nutrients and weakening it.
The Mango bark borer can also transmit several diseases, including mango wilt and leaf spot disease, which can further reduce the yield and quality of the fruit produced. To effectively manage this pest, it is important to understand its life cycle, its preferred habitats, and the best methods for controlling it. This article will provide an overview and discussion of the Mango Bark Borer Pest in Mango crops, including its symptoms, identification techniques, and control.
Bark Borer Pest Management in Mango
Life Cycle of Mango Bark Borer Pest in Mango Crop
The life cycle of the mango bark borer pest has four stages. They are egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The cycle begins when the female bark borer lays eggs in clusters beneath the loose bark of the trees. The eggs hatch into caterpillar larvae within one to two weeks. The caterpillar is the most damaging stage of this pest, during which they feed on the tree’s inner bark and tunnel through the wood in a zig-zag manner in the April-December months.
These larvae produce silken webs on the wood consisting of their excrement and wooden particles. After several weeks of feeding, the larvae pupate in 3-4 months and transform into a pupa in the boreholes. The pupa hatches into an adult moth. The adult moth lays eggs on the bark of the mango tree, and the cycle repeats itself.
Occurrence of Mango Bark Borer Pest in Mango Crop
- Location of Mango Bark Borer pest: This pest infests mango crops in India, Burma, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Australia, and the United States.
- Host range: The mango bark borers infect crops like Mango, Papaya, Guava, Avocado, Lime, Orange, Litchi, Ber, Pomegranate, Citrus fruits, Loquat, Mulberry, Rose, Bauhinia, and Moringa.
Factors Favoring the Population Increase of Mango Bark Borer Pest in Mango Crop
- Warm temperatures and high humidity create an environment where the pest can thrive and reproduce rapidly.
- The bark of the mango tree has a high sugar content, providing an excellent food source for the pest.
- The mango bark borer has a long life cycle, allowing it to reproduce and spread quickly throughout the environment.
- The mango bark borer is a highly adaptable insect that can quickly adapt to different environmental conditions and survive in dry and wet conditions.
- The presence of alternate hosts, like oranges, avocados, papayas, etc., allows the pest to build up its population quickly.
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