Vanilla insect pests and their natural enemies

A survey was conducted at major vanilla growing areas of Tamil Nadu to record the pest status of vanilla and their natural enemies. Investigations were made mainly in the vanilleries of Coimbatore and Theni districts. Out of 60 farms surveyed during ten months, only nine farms had the incidence of pest attack. A total of twelve arthropods were recorded as pests of vanilla. Almost all parts of vanilla plant viz., stem, leaf, flower, bud, roots, pods etc were found to be attacked. Among the pests, white grubs were found to cause considerable damage followed by vanilla bug and shoot and leaf webber, while others were not at the economic level. Among the natural enemies, parasitoids like Euplectrus sp., Glyptapanteles sp., Aprostocetus sp., Chelonus sp., and Uropoda mites were found to be associated with vanilla pests.