Seasonal Incidence of Tea Mosquito Bug, Helopeltis spp. in Guava, cv. L-49 at ARS- Hagari, Ballari, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Guava production faces significant challenges due to insect pests, with the tea mosquito bug (TMB), Helopeltis spp. (Heteroptera: Miridae), posing a major threat by causing extensive damage. Both adult and nymph stages of TMB feed on young leaves, tender shoots, flower buds, and small fruits, leading to substantial plant stress. Infestation at the fruit’s early stages often causes premature drying and fruit drop, while damage to leaves and shoots results in drying and withering of shoots. TMB also causes visible black specks on flower buds that later merge, leading to bud desiccation, and its feeding punctures on fruits expand as fruits mature, forming corky patches that reduce marketable yield by up to 60–70%. Although TMB’s impact on guava is severe, limited information exists regarding its pest status and seasonal incidence. To address this, a study was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Hagari, Ballari, Karnataka, to observe TMB incidence on guava. Bi-weekly observations from June 2019 to May 2021 recorded both affected and healthy plant parts, including young leaves, flower buds, and fruits. Over the two-year period, pest incidence on young leaves began in early July (4.11%) and peaked in the first fortnight of October (18.59%). Infestation on flower buds started in early August (8.29%) and reached a maximum (23.30%) by mid-October, while fruit infestation began at 8.89% in early August, peaking at 23.30% in mid-October. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between fruit infestation and temperature, while relative humidity and rainfall showed significant positive correlations with infestation levels.