BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS IN INDIA

1. THE COTTNY CUSHION SCALE OR FLUTED SCALE Icerya purchase:

It is a scale insect, which is a polyphagous pest on a variety of fruit trees in western
countries. In Tamil Nadu it spread to an alarming degree on a variety of wild vegetation on
the Nilgiris by about 1928. It had over 100 host plants but the only important crop affected
was the wattle of commercial importance Acacia decurrens. The only successful way of
controlling the pest is by its beetle predator Rodolia cardinalis. The beetles were initially
got from California in May 1929, multiplied in the laboratory and released in infested
areas. Another consignment of the beetle arrived from Egypt in 1930. By 1931, the
incidence of the pest was practically reduced to negligible limits. A severe outbreak on
Acacia was again reported from Kodaikanal in 1942 and subsequently from the Nilgiris
also. Intensive work was taken up in May 1943 and continued till 1945. The activity later
merged into an all-India coordinated scheme under the joint auspices of the then Madras
Government (Tamil Nadu) and Government of India.
Attempts made to introduce the exotic fly parasite Cryptochaetum iceryae against the
pest were not successful. Similarly Rodolia nezara from Kerala, R. amabilis and R. fumida
from Mysore and R.breviscula from Coorg were treid at Fernhill (Nilgiris) against the pest
but did not succeed.
2. THE COCONUT BLACK-HEADED CATERPILLAR Opisina arenosella:
It is one of the most serious pests of the coconut palm. The search for natural
enemies and the attempts to employ them for biological control succeeded by 1926. Of the
many natural enemies observed, the most important have been Goniozus nephantidis
(Bethylidae) parasitizing the grown-up caterpillars and Trichospilus pupivora
(Eulophidae), a pupal parasitoid. These were bred in the laboratory and were released. To a
lesser degree Elasmus nephantidis and Bracon brevicornis also proved to be amenable to
mass breeding. These parasitoids are bred multiplied now in large numbers in the parasite
breeding stations at several places in the country and liberated into the pest infested areas
for effective control. An ichneumonid parasitoid Eriborus tronchanteratus obtained from
Sri Lanka was multiplied and released from the control of pest around Coimbatore. The
larval and pre-pupal parasitoids Goniozus nephantidis, Bracon brevicornis,
Apanteles
taragamae and Elasmus nephantidis, and the pupal parasitoids Trichospilaus
pupivora,
Tetrastichus Israeli, Brachymeria nephantidis,B. lasus. B. nosatoi and
Xanthopimpla
punctata are being mass multiplied in bio-control laboratories of Kerala for periodical
releases.
(a) Goniozus nephantidis is shiny black in colour and ant-like in appearance. It
is a larval parasite and attacks only Opisina arenosella caterpillars. The adults of the
parasitoids, which emerge from the cocoons, are kept in 1.5×2.5 cm tubes. For feeding
drops of sugar solution (1 parts of sugar in 10 parts of water) are kept on a small paper slip
dipped in wax; and the same changed every day. Mating takes place within a day or two of
emergence. The mated females are separated and each parasite is taken in a small tube of
7.5×2.5 cm. Grown-up caterpillars are introduced into these tubes at the rate of one
caterpillar per tube. The parasitoid paralyses the caterpillar and starts laying eggs. The
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elongate eggs are firmly glued on the sides of the host and 8 to 20 eggs are laid on a
caterpillar. Grubs hatch in about 36 hours and begin to feed on the body fluid of their host.
Larval stage lasts four to six days and pupal stage four days. When fully fed the grubs
detach themselves from the dead caterpillar and spin loose, flimsy cocoons of silk. The
total life cycle varies from 11 to 16 days.
(b) Trichospilus pupivora is a tiny yellowish-brown wasp, which attacks the
pupae of Opisina. In the laboratory it can be freely bred on pupae of various species of
Lepidoptera such as Ariadne merione merione, Conogethes punctifralis. Plusia sp.,
Spodoptera litura, Syllepte derogate, etc. Mating takes place inside the parasitized pupa
even before emergence and hence the parasites are ready for egg-laying. Only fresh pupae
of the host are taken in tubes of 7.5×2.5 cm and the parasites allowed inside at the rate of
about 20 per tube. The minute eggs hatch in day, and the grubs become full grown in five
to six days and form naked pupae. The pupal period is about 16 to 17 days on an average. It
cannot survive the summer conditions and has to be propagated every year.
The parasitoids are taken to the top of the trees and released at the rate of about 10
parasitoids per tree in a few places in garden.
(c) Spoggossia bezziana, the exotic tachinid fly parasitoid, from the then
Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control, Bangalore, was mass multiplied and
liberated into the coconut gardens around Coimbatore. The attempts were not continued.
3. SUGARCANE BORER Chilo infuscatellus:
The eggs of Corcyra cephalonica are collected and they are used for multiplication
of the parasitoid. For this purpose the moths collected are put inside an inverted big-sized
funnel having its bottom closed with a wire-mesh. This funnel is kept on a piece of white
cardboard overnight. On the next day morning the eggs deposited on the cardboard are
collected. The eggs are sprinkled on a wet paper and then dried. These cards are kept inside
a tube and the Trichogamma chilonis parasitoids are introduced. In two to three days the
eggs get parasitized and the parasitized eggs turn dark. The parasitized egg cards are sent to
the respective places for hanging them in the sugarcane fields. The parasites come out of
the eggs and attack the eggs of Chilo infuscatellus. Stapling 100 egg-cards (5×2.5 cm) with
seven day old eggs of Corcyra parasitized by T.chilonis to the undersides of leaves of
sugarcane from July to October at 10 day interval is suggested. Normally 10 to 12 releases
at the rate of 50,000 parasitized eggs/ha is recommended.
4. THE INTERNODE BORER Chilo sacchariphagus indicus:
Inundative release of Trichogamma chilonis at 2,50,000 parasitoids/ha in phases
during the different stages of crop growth i.e. 25,000 parasitoids/ha per release during
fourth and ninth months and 50,000 parasitoids/ha per release during fifth, sixth, seventh
and eighth months is recommended for the control of internode borer in Tamil Nadu.
5. THE TOP BORER OF SUGARCANE Scirpophaga excerptalis:
The ichneumonid parasitoid Gambroides javensis has been found promising in the
control of the top borer on the sugarcane in pugalur area. Inoculative release of the
parasitoid at the rate of 125 females/ha in fields showing more than 10% top borer
infestation in recommended.
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6. THE STALK BORER Chilo auricilius:
The Cuban fly Lixophaga diatreae imported from Taiwan in 1962 indicated
promising results in the control of the stalk borer Chilo auricilius. It has been found that in
Uttar Pradesh, the fly has been able to survive the North Indian winter. Another fly
Diatraeophaga striatalis (tachinid) received from Malagasy Republic in 1965 was released
in Tamil Nadu. Sequential release of 125 gravid females of the tachinid parasitoid
Sturmiopsis inferens per ha from 30th to 50th day of planting is suggested.
7. THE SUGARCANE SCALE Melanaspis glomerata:
Release of about 1500 beetles of Pharoscymnus horni or Chilocorus nigritus per
hectare at the first appearance of the scale insect is suggested. Sticholotis madagassa Weise
(Coccinellidae) and Anabrolepis mayurai Subba Rao have been found suitable for
suppression of the scale.
8. THE SUGARCANE PYRILLA Pyrilla perpusilla:
Effective nymphal and adult parasitoid Epiricania melanoleuca has also been
successfully colonized in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka
and West Bengal besides other areas in the control of sugarcane pyrilla. Release of 8,000 to
10,000 cocoons of 8,00,000 to 10,00,000 eggs of E.leuconella per ha is recommended. Leaf
bits bearing two to three egg masses or five to seven cocoons can be stapled to the
underside of sugarcane leaf at several places in the field.
9. THE APPLE WOOLLY APHIS Eriosoma lanigera:
This is a serious pest of the apples and the recognized method of control is by
systematic colonization of its specific parasite Aphelinus mali. Consignments of the
parasite were obtained from Punjab in 1940 and liberated in the Pomological Station,
Coonoor. The work was intensified from 1944 onwards and appreciable control has been
affected. Heavy predation by Coccinella septempunctana and Adonia variegate also
keeps
the pest under control.
10. THE APPLE SAN JOSE SCALE Quadraspidiotus perniciosus:
Russian, American and Chinese strains of Encarsia perniciosi, Aphytis diaspidis
and A. proclia group effectively suppressed this pest on apple. Chilocorus bijugas,
Pharoscymnus flexibilis and Cybocephalus sp. Also play an important role in the
population suppression of this pest.
11. THE APPLE CODLING MOTH Cydia pomonella:
Inundative releases of Trichogramma cocoeciae and T. embryophagum have been
found promising against apple codling moth in Ladakh.
12. COTTON BOLLWORMS:
Weekly releases of Trichogramma at 25,000 per hectare from flowering season till
the ripening of the bolls showed a progressive decline in infestation of the bollworm
Heliocoverpa armigera and pink bollworm Paclinophora gossypiella on cotton. The
exotic
parasitoid Bracon kirckpatricki has suppressed the cotton bollworms in Karnataka,
Haryana, Punjab and Gujarat. It was also found parasitizing hibernating larvae of pink
bollworm in the north. Chelonus blackburni has established in the north as well as in the
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south. Utilizing the parasitoids Trichogramma brasiliensis, T. chilonis, C. blackburni
and
B. kirckpatricki, the predator Chrysopa scelestes and the NPV of Helicoverpa
armigera the
cotton bollworm complex can be effectively suppressed.
13. THE RICE STEM BORER Scirpophaga incertulus:
The rice stem borer incidence is reduced by periodical release of the parasitoid
Trichogramma chilonis at 40,000 to 50,000 parasitoids/ha.
14. THE RICE LEAF FOLDER Cnaphalocrocis medinalis:
Periodical release of Trichogramma australicum at 50,000 parasitoids/ha has given
effective control.
15. THE BROWN PLANTHOPPER (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens:
Release of the mired bug Cyrtorhinus lividipennis at 100 bugs or 50-75 eggs/m2 at
10 days interval checked the buildup of BPH population to some extent.
16. THE TOBACCO CATERPILLAR Spodoptera litura:
Since 1974 the egg parasitoid Telenomus remus (Scelionidae), obtained through the
Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control, Bangalore, was mass multiplied and
released in Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh) for the control of the tobacco caterpillar.
17. THE CITRUS BLACKFLY (CBF) Aleorocanthus nagpurensis :
There was an outbreak of the CBF in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra state and
the species was established as Aleurocanthus nagpurensis, through earlier it was variously
identified as A. woglumi and A. husaini. This species has been effectively kept under check
by the parasitoid Encarsia arangae. The methods for mass rearing of the pest and the
parasitoid were developed at Nagpur University and releases made during 1986 and 1987
in the citrus orchards at Nagpur University brought the pest under check by 85-90% within
one year. This appears to be a potential bio-control agent for the control of A.nagpurensis.
18. THE SUBABUL PSYLLID Heteropsylla cubana:
The exotic coccinellid Curinus coerulens, a shiny bluish-black beetle was
introduced into India from Thailand in October 1988 for the control of the psyllid, which
got entry into India in February 1988.
19. THE AUSTRALIAN LADYBIRD BEETLE Cryptolaemus montrozieri
(Coccinelliae):
This was imported into India in 1898 from the USA. Since then it was seen
occurring in Taliparamba in 1930, in Bangalore in 1940 on mealy bugs and in 1951 on
trunks of Araucaria pines, in Anamalai in 1931 on guava scale and in Coimbatore in 1942
on guava scale and in 1944 on brinjal. During the survey of the cactus on the Nilgiris it was
found at Anikorai that the cochineal Dactylopius tomentosus on the prickly pear (opuntia
dillenii) was being preyed upon by the adults and larvae of this beetle. Experiments
conducted on the mass multiplication and releasing of the predator at Coimbatore for
controlling mealy bugs like Coccidohystrix insolitus on brinjal, Chloropulvinaria psidii
on
sapota and guava, Pseudococcus corymbatus on citrus, Pulvinaria maxima on neem,
etc.
gave some control. However, the relief was only partial due to depredatory activity of the
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ants, which proved inimical to the predatory grubs and adults. It has also to be replenished
every year. Presently it is used for the control of mealy bug on grapevine.
The other common predaceous insects in South India include, the coccinellid
beetles Cheilomenes sexmaculatus on aphids on a variety of crops and Chilocirus
nigritus
predominantly on scale insects attacking coconut, betelvine, neem, tapioca, etc.