OCCURRENCE OF TEA MOSQUITO BUG HELOPELTIS ANTONII SIGNORET ON NEEM IN NORTHERN KARNATAKA.

Severe incidence of tea mosquito bug Helopeltis antonii Signoret (Hemiptera: Miridae) on neem Azadirachta indica A. Juss was noticed during 2021-22 in Northern parts of Karnataka. The incidence level (expressed in damage score) varied from 1 to 4 across the surveyed locations, and mean damage score of 3 (25-50% incidence) was observed. Adults and nymphs were found desapping the tender parts of the twigs resulting in black patches and gummosis on the feeding zone initially. Later, affected twigs were found drying along with leaves giving burnt appearance. In this paper, details of survey conducted, different life stages of the pest recorded along with symptoms of damage are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]