Rubber

Abstract

Mealybugs are injurious to rubber in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Egypt, Malaysia, Nigeria, Tanzania, etc. Mealybug is not a major problem on rubber until the recent introduction of the mealybug Paracoccus marginatus in India. Among the mealybugs infesting rubber, except the Pa. marginatus, all are considered to be minor. Ferrisia virgata were found attached to roots hanging down from an African rubber tree. Both crawlers and adult female mealybugs feed on the sap of rubber plants by inserting their stylets into the epidermis of the leaf, tender shoots, main stem, inflorescence, as well as the fruit. Due to the feeding, the leaves showed chlorosis, plant stunting, leaf deformation, early leaf and fruit drop, a heavy buildup of honeydew and consequent sooty mould development on all plant parts, and drying of worst affected branches. In south-eastern Nigeria, Phenacoccus manihoti on Cerea rubber tree (Manihot glaziovii) was found attacked by Spalgis lemolea Druce and Chrysopa sp. Release of aphelinid Acerophagus papayae Noyes and Schauff was found highly successful in suppressing Pa. marginatus on rubber.