Insect pest

a) Litchi mite:

• The mites puncture and lacerate the tissues of the leaf and suck the cell sap
• They attack the young leaves causing hairy blister like gall on the upper side of the leaves
• The leaves become thickened wrinkled and distorted
• The leaves may ultimately fall off
• The mite also attacks and cause malformation of inflorescence

b) Litchi fruit borer:

• The young larvae make mine in the lamina and bore into mid-rib of young leaves and tunnel through it, as a result branches wither and drop.

c) Bark eating caterpillar:

• Several caterpillars may attack the same tree at different Bark eating caterpillar Damage symptoms locations with serious injury to the bark and the death of small branches.
• The holes left on the trunk may lead to infestation by other insects or plant pathogens. Affected trees also break at the points of attack.
• A severe infestation may arrest the growth of the tree and the fruiting capacity.

d) Mealy bug:

• Young plants – susceptible for heavy infestation.
• Infest tender branches, nodes, leaves, spikes, berries and roots
• Both nymphs and adults suck the sap from the leaves.
• Severe infestation – Chlorotic leaves, aborted flower buds and small berries
• Honey dew excrete – development of sooty mould fungus (affects photosynthesis)

e) White fly:

• Both the adults and nymphs suck the plant sap and reduce the vigor of the plant.
• In severe infestations, the leaves turn yellow and drop off.
• When the populations are high, they secrete large quantities of honeydew, which favors the growth of sooty mould on leaf surfaces and reduces the photosynthetic efficiency of the plants.