Pests and Birds 103
lecanii, which causes up to 90% mortality during summer. There are two small
parasitic wasps, for example, Coccophagous lycimnia and Trichomastus portoricen-
sis that periodically cause mortality to this pest (Copland and Ibrahim 1985). Foliar
spray of malathion (1.5 mL/L of water) and lime sulphur (1.0 g/L water) has been
reported very effective to control this pest (Pena and Johnson 2006).
9.6 Mites
Papaya foliage is attacked by a complex of phytophagus mites, among which the
carmine spider mite (Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisduval) is one of the key pests.
This species is a worldwide polyphagous pest, mainly distributed in semitropical and
tropical areas (Cheng et al. 2009). Tiny eight-legged yellow, dark green or reddish
spiders inhabit the underside of foliage. Red spider mite (Tetranychus seximacula-
tus) sucks the sap from the leaves. In India, plant and fruit infestation by red spider
mite has been a major problem. Mites prefer to suck from very young plant tissues.
This pest feeds on the very young fruits and causes them to drop. They can also
transmit viral diseases (Cheng et al. 2009).
9.6.1 Management
Heavily infested leaves should be pruned and buried or burnt. Planting of healthy
and vigourous seedlings which are clean and without infestation or diseases should
be used. Spraying of herbal insecticides and lime sulphur solution underneath the
leaves will greatly help in cleaning the plants from these pests (Rex and Rivera
2005).
Control of mite pests on papayas depends mainly on chemical applications.
However, intensive application of miticides, short life cycle and high reproductive
rates of mites have led to the development of resistance in mites to many registered
FIGURE 9.4 (See colour insert.) Papaya fruit infested with female scale insects. (Adapted
from Pena, J. E. and F. A. Johnson, 2006, Insect Management in Papaya, The Institute of
Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida, ENY-414:1–4.)