Litchi stink bug (Tessaratoma javanica) outbreak in Jharkhand, India, on litchi

Abstract

The litchi stink bug Tessaratoma javanica (Thunberg) (Hemiptera: Tessaratomidae) is a minor insect pest of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) in India. Recently, an outbreak of litchi stink bug was observed in the Chotanagpur plateau of Jharkhand, India, during February–April 2011. A description of the outbreak is given in this report. Females were found to be highly fecund and caused severe damage to the litchi crop (>80%) in the region. Incubation period of eggs was found to be 12.80 days. The mean nymph population was 45.66 nymphs per 30-cm shoot length, and the maximum was159 nymphs, observed during March and April 2012 on litchi trees. The outbreak of the pest may be due to the migration of bugs from wild kusum (Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken) plants (a host plant of the litchi stink bug) to the cultivated litchi crop. During the course of the investigation, two natural enemies were found on litchi stink bug, viz., Anastatus bangalorensis Mani & Kurian and Ooencyrtus sp. However, the natural parasitization by the parasitoids was very low, 3.5%. Considering the damage caused to the litchi crop in this region, the recent outbreak created an alarming situation for the pest management researchers of the country to develop suitable integrated pest management strategies in the near future. Otherwise, this will become a major problem to the litchi growers as well as to industries associated with this delicious fruit in India.