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This study incudes a field experiment conducted in the farmer's holding during 2016-2017 to develop IPM module against the sucking pests of guava. The results revealed that the aphid Aphis gossypii could be controlled with IPM module, reducing the incidence to 6.18 aphids/ 3 leaves/ as against a maximum of 157.85 aphids/ 3 leaves/ tree). Planococcus citri incidence could be reduced up to 6.80 mealy bugs/ 3 leaves/ tree from 233.11 mealy bugs in untreated control; likewise Paracoccus marginatus got reduced to 1.99 mealy bugs/ 3 leaves/ tree as against 225.45; Ferrisia virgata incidence got reduced to 13.49/ 3 leaves/ tree) followed by farmer practice (19.80) as against 205 in untreated control. In case of whitefly Aleurodicus dispersus, IPM module reduced the incidence rate to 12.26 whiteflies/ 3 leaves/ tree, and it was followed by farmer practice, as against 193.49 in untreated control. A maximum yield of 7.68 kg/ tree was obtained with the IPM module as against 6.40 kg/ tree with farmers' practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted in the farmer's holdings at Kalathupudhur village, Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu during 2015-2016. Experimental results revealed that the maximum number of PDI were recorded in untreated control 86.86 per cent followed by famer's practise 52 per cent, as minimum number of PDI were recorded in IPM plot 14.20 per cent at 121 DAS. Regarding fruit yield parameters, maximum numbers of harvestable fruits were recorded in IPM plot (11.85), followed by farmer's practice (8.28) as against lowest number of 4.71 fruits per plant in untreated control. The maximum fruit yield of 34.12 tonnes per ha was recorded in IPM plot followed by farmer's practise 22.53 tonnes per ha, as against the minimum fruit yield and cost benefit ratio of 8.62 tonnes per ha in untreated control, respectively. Based on the experimental results revealed that the IPM strategy was significantly superior to farmer's practice and untreated control in reducing the per cent disease incidence, number of fruits per plant and fruits yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Survey, monitoring and documentation of entomofauna of cocoa was carried out in three cocoa growing states viz., Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh during 2014-2015. Results revealed that a total number of 23 species of insect pests and 13 species of natural enemies were documented and identified. Among the insect pests, 14, 2 and 7 species were sucking pests, borers and defoliators, respectively. Among the natural enemies, 7 species of predators and 6 species of parasitoids were documented and identified on different insect pests of cocoa. Among the insect pests, sucking pests were found to be predominant and maximum number of entomofauna were recorded in major coco growing areas of Tamil Nadu. From the results it was concluded that the list of entomofauna documented can enhance the knowledge on diversity of the entomofauna associated with cocoa in three different cocoa growing states. Sucking pests were found to be predominant and caused huge yield loss in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. While in Andhra Pradesh pod borer and bark eating caterpillar were found to be predominant causing severe yield loss. This information provides a base for development of location specific Integrated Pest Management module. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]