Rhizome scale (Aspidiotus hartii, Diaspididae,Hemiptera)

Damaging stage: nymph and adult

Damaging symptoms: infested plants become weak, pale and withered in the field that results in shrivelling of rhizomes and buds, infest rhizomes both in field and storage.

Identification

• Scales are minute, circular, light brownish to grey with a thin pale It reproduces either ovovivparously or parthenogenetically.
• Adult is yellow to deep yellow in colour.

Management

• Apply well rotten sheep manure / poultry manure in two splits @ 10 tons/ha,
• Soak seed rhizomes, in insecticide solution of either dimethoate 30 EC or phosalone 5 ml/L 1.5 ml/L or
• dichlorvos 5 ml/L for 15 min. for storing.