Leaf Mining Flea Beetle | the trending pests.

 

#Leaf Mining Flea Beetle

By Motikrishna shah

                                                        In this blog   

•  Leaf Mining Flea beetle
• Pests on details
• Host plants
• Species
• Life cycle
• Period of attacks
• Natural enemies
• Nature of Infestation
• How to manage this pest?

                                                Have you ever Inspected your’s lemon or citrus farm? If not then go and do it immediately. Do you wonder why I am saying this? Well! The reason is that Leaf mining flea beetle is a hot trending topic now.

                        But why ? hmmm…..

The severe attack of this pests is recently being detected in 2079/7/25 in Abukhairani V.D.C ward n.o 1 of tanahun district in Drub Babu, a local farmer farm. This is a matter of worry because leaf mining flea beetle is one of the least studied pests till date. It is estimated that it attacks in severeness can cause big sum of loss in our citrus production. The sample of these insects has been collected from the spot and is being sent to National Entomology Research Center, Khumaltar, Lalitpur Nepal for research and developing management strategies against it.

 

Pests on Details:

ABOUT:

                Leaf mining flea beetle is leaf miner-like insects. However they are somewhat similar but morphologically different creatures.  Widely placed antennal sockets closed procoxal cavities and regularly punctate striate elytra are common morphological features in  all species.

                

 

                                          

 

 

 

 

Theirs adults measures 2.5-3.0 mm in length and 3.0 mm in width.

 

HOST PLANT:

                         Citrus like Lemon & Oranges.

Readers should understand that flea beetle genera are related to the citrus family Rutaceae.

SPECIES:

1.      Podagricomela nigripes

2.      Amphimela citri prathapan

3.      A. indica

4.      A. picta (Baly)

5.      Sebaethe fulvipennis LLiger

                             Etc.

LIFE CYCLE:

                    The life cycle of the pests revolves around Eggs, Grub, Pupas, and Adults. A details discussion on these different stages of leaf-mining flea beetle are made below:

✪  Egg: It is often observed that each female lays 60-190 eggs in the group of 30-60 on the backside of the young leaves. Those eggs are elongated, cylindrical, cream-colored finely structured, and covered by some abdominal secretion in an ‘S’ shape. The young grubs hatch out from eggs after 6 to 8 days of laying.

✪  Grub: The grubs have four instars whose duration lasts for 22-23 days. The grubs are creamy and white and fed on the epidermal layers of leaves.

✪  Pupa: The pupa is found in soil and is covered by the round cocoon . Pupa measures about 9 mm and it’s period lasts up to 78 days.

✪  Adult: Adults start emerging out during the month of February however high emergence is seen during March.

                         

                       Image: From Google

 

                                                            TABLE:  Life stage

Life stages	Lasting periods
Eggs	6-8 days
Ist    instar	4-5 days
IInd instar	5-6 days
IIIrd instar	6-7 days
IVthinstar	6-8 days
Pupa	78 days

 

PERIOD OF ATTACK:

 

                                    This pest is most active and infests citrus in between February starting to November ends.

 

 

                     NATURAL ENEMIES:

                                                     Black earwigs feed on flea beetle grubs which can also act as natural control agents for its.

NATURE OF INFESTATION:

                                                   This leaf-mining beetle feeds on newly emerged leaves by nibbling the leaf margins. The grubs mines leaves in between epidermal layers. The adults make small window by feeding on the tender shoot. Likewise, its grubs skeletonize entire leaf.

 

 

 

 

                           Fig: Leaf infested by grubs

 

 

 

 How to manage this pest?

        Since this pest is new and still under study. It is suggested to apply the same management process as we do to control general leaf miners.

Management Strategy

🌻Collect and destroy mined leaves.

   🌻 Spray NSKE or Neem oil 5% to the citrus plant at any time (after planting or in standing plants).

   🌻 Plough soil deeply while preparing the field for plantation.

  🌻  Light traps or sticky traps can be used.

  🌻  Cypermethrin + chlorpyrifos pesticide mixture in 2ml/liter water gives prevention against leaf mining pests.

 

 

 

ANY SUGGESTIONS OR QUERIES?

Do comments below: