The Mango Flower Webber, Eublemma versicolor, belonging to the Family Noctuidae of the Order Lepidoptera, is a well-known polyphagous moth species. The female moth lays eggs in the flowers of mango trees, and the caterpillars feed on the flowers, buds, and leaves. This can cause severe damage to mango crops, as the larvae can quickly defoliate entire trees. In addition to feeding on the mango flowers and foliage, the larvae can also affect the fruit, causing small brown spots on the surface of the fruit.
The Mango Flower Webber serves as a vector for various diseases and viruses. This can reduce the quality and marketability of the mango fruit. 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 Flower Webber Pest in Mango crops, including its symptoms, identification techniques, and control.
Mango Flower Webber Pest Management
Life Cycle of Mango Flower Webber Pest in Mango Crop
The life cycle of the mango flower webber pest has four stages. They are egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The pest’s life cycle begins with the female Mango Flower Webber Pest laying her eggs on the underside of the mango flower. And they hatch after a few days. After hatching, the larvae feed on the petals and stamens of the mango flower. They also feed on the nectar produced by the flower. The larvae feed for a few weeks and then molt into the pupa stage. During the pupal stage, the larvae form a cocoon, where they remain until they emerge as adults.
In the pupal stage, the larvae are inactive and do not feed. This stage usually lasts for a few weeks. Once the larvae emerge as adults, they mate, and the females lay their eggs on the underside of the mango flower. The adult moth lives for about two weeks and then dies. The entire lifecycle of the Mango Flower Webber Pest takes about two months from egg to adult. The larvae and adult pests feed on the mango flowers, causing them to become deformed and providing an opening for fungal and bacterial diseases.
Occurrence of Mango Flower Webber Pest in Mango Crop
- Location of Mango Flower Webber pest: This pest infests mango crops in India, Africa, the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
- Host range: The mango flower webber pest infects crops like mango, guava, custard apple, cashew, sapota, avocado, and papaya.
Factors Favoring the Population Increase of Mango Flower Webber Pest in Mango Crop
- The pest prefers to live in warm and humid conditions, and mango crops often provide these conditions.
- The presence of other pests, like aphids, also attracts the webber pest as they provide an additional food source.
- Due to habitat destruction and overuse of pesticides, natural predators, such as spiders, birds, and lizards, are often absent in mango crops.
Identification of Mango Flower Webber Pest in Mango Crop
- Eggs: The eggs are small, reddish, and hemispherical.
- Larvae: The caterpillars are smooth, greenish-yellow, with a brown head and a prothoracic shield.
- Pupa: Th