Sugarcane Mealybug (Saccharicoccus sacchari, Pseudococcidae, Hemiptera)

Damaging stage: Nymph, Adult

Damage symptoms

Pinkish oval insects beneath leaf sheath on the nodes, with whitish mealy coating. Sooty mould develops on the plant. Main cane stunted; roots also attacked.

Identification:

• Egg: yellowish, smooth, cylindrical.
• Nymph: quite active with a pinkish transparent body.
• Adult: Adults are white with mealy coating, sessile.

Life cycle

Eg–1 week–> Nymph–3-4 week–> Adult

Management

• Mange proper drainage
• Do not plant sugarcane in deep surface.
• Apply nitrogen 100 kg per ha.
• Apply metasystox 25 % EC @ 1 ml / litre water