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What is fruit spotting bug?
It is the insect which insert the long mouth into the fruit and during feeding it usually excludes saliva containing enzymes that breakdown the cell of green fruits. In custard apple there are two species of bug which attacked on plants namely Banana spotting bug (Amblypelta lutescens) and the fruit spotting bug (Amblypelta nitida).
Life cycle of fruit spotting bug
Eggs – An adult female laid few eggs on a day and during its life period it may lay upto 150 eggs. The eggs start hatching after 5-6 days. The eggs are pale green, oval-shaped and about 2 mm long. The development of eggs to adult averages around 42 days. The insects pass through 3-4 generation in a year i.e. in spring, summer and autumn with peaks in numbers about December-February.
Nymphs – The nymphs are ant-like, pink to red/brown, with prominent antennae and button-like scent glands on the upper side of the abdomen.
Adult – Adult bugs are yellow/green and about 15 mm long. They can be difficult to find because, when disturbed, they either fly away or quickly hide.
How does it damage the fruit?
- Adults and nymphs pierce fruit repeatedly and young fruit usually drop off within 5-10 days.
- While feeding, fruit spotting bugs secrete an enzyme which causes extensive breakdown of cells.
- Damage is identified by small, black, round spots on young fruit and occurs mostly on shoulders of the fruit.
- Damage penetrates about 1 cm into the fruit.
How to manage or control the fruit spotting bugs?
- Cleanliness is the first strategy to each and every orchard. Collect and destroy the infected fruits from the orchard.
- Bugs migrate from forest to orchard area and at first they encounter with the outside row plant so spray the insecticide immediately.
- Fruit bagging is the best way to control from the insects.
- Fruit spotting bug prefer a humid shaded microclimate so while pruning open up the canopy for lower infestation.
- Plant can be trained in single leader system as these facilitate the air circulation and light penetration to each and every part of the plant.
- Spray methidathion to control the insects.
