Sustainable Management of Tea Mosquito Bug Helopeltis antonii Signoret ... 393
2006–2008 in coastal and maidan Karnataka, re-
spectively. Percentage damage on the trees partly
colonized with O. smaragdina was 23.40 + 2.16
in coastal and 20.12 + 2.05 in maidan tract. The
unsprayed cashew trees with no ant recorded
maximum percentage damage 47.42 + 3.71 and
52.36 + 3.86 in Brahmavar and Chintamani, re-
spectively during the survey. Higher nut yield of
3.70 and 2.43 kg/tree was recorded in the trees
fully colonized with O. smaragdina in coastal
and maidan Karnataka, respectively. Based on
the results obtained, it was observed that O. sma-
ragdina appeared as a predominant predatory
ant on H. antonii in cashew-growing regions of
Karnataka. Its role as a key predator is of poten-
tial significance in keeping the TMB population
under check leading to increased yield. Increas-
ing the activities of O. smaragdina could fur-
ther reduce the H. antonii population. Similar
observations were made by Chong ( 1987 ) and
Chin et al. ( 1988 ). O. smaragdina significantly
reduced damage of H. antonii on cashew. This
is in concurrence with the findings of Peng et al.
( 1995 ) and Wijetunga et al. ( 2003 ).
Observations for 4 years (2007–2010) on ca-
shew plantations at Puttur and Chintamani re-
vealed that colonies of O. smaragdina did not
establish in the presence of the yellow crazy
ants ( Anoplolepis gracilipes F. Smith). O. sma-
ragdina ants’ activity levels got gradually de-
creased and wiped out from the plantation within
a year. Efforts to establish colonies of O. sma-
ragdina failed at Puttur and Chintamani mainly
because of the occurrence of crazy ants. Baiting
has proved the most effective method to manage
crazy ants by the fish-based protein—Fipronil.
It has been proved that concentrations below
0.5 g/ha a. i. has no effect on reptiles, birds or
mammals, and as Fipronil does not dissolve in
water therefore does not adversely affect water
supplies (Fishes 2007). Solutions to crazy ant
problem can be found in prevention which will
only be achieved through increased monitoring
of ants and products into cashew plantations and
by increasing public awareness.Effect of Telonomus of TMB
The egg parasitoid Telenomus species was the
predominant parasitoid on H. antonii. Maxi-
mum mean egg parasitisation of 16.80, 15.35
and 12.70 % were recorded from host eggs col-
lected in Brahmavar, Pethri and Chintamani ca-
shew plantations, respectively, during December
(Table 2 ) 2006–2008. Similar observations on
the effectiveness of Telenomus species on TMB
eggs were reported by Sundararaju ( 1993 ) and
CIBC ( 1983 ). Cashew trees fully colonized by O.
smaragdina recorded the least percentage dam-
age of 11.40 + 1.87 and 8.71 + 1.23 during 2006–
2008 in coastal and maidan tracts of Karnataka
respectively (Table 3 ). TMB damage on trees
partly colonized with O. smaragdina ants were
23.40 + 2.16 in coastal and 20.12 + 2.05 in maidanTable 2 Egg parasitisation of tea mosquito bug by Telenomus sp. in field. (pooled data 2006–2008)
Location (percentage egg parasitisation by TMB) (%)
Month Brahmavar Pethri Chintamani
January 7.80 15.35 4.64
February 8.50 7.40 5.17
March 2.10 5.30 3.14
April 4.20 3.00 2.23
May 1.30 0.60 0.92
June 1.82 0.30 1.03
July 0.40 0.90 0.67
August 0.90 0.80 2.02
September 4.40 3.63 4.23
October 4.80 5.50 5.24
November 5.70 7.42 7.14
December 16.80 5.70 12.70