1Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore-560065.
2Central Integrated Pest Management Centre, Somajiguda, Hyderabad-500482.
3Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi-110001.
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake P.O., Bangalore-560089.
Survey was conducted for assessing the incidence and severity of the serpentine leaf miner, Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. This pest occurred in all these states. Its damage was characterised by sharply curled and contorted leaf mines which had a continous black trail of frass. It was recorded on 79 host plants covering fibre crops, pulses, vegetables, ornamentals, green manures, fodder, narcotics and weeds belonging to 16 plant families. Its incidence was relatively more on tomato, okra, field bean, ridge gourd, cucumber, potato, castor and cotton among the crops surveyed. The severity of damage varied depending on the plant height; leaves in the top canopy had fewer mines as compared to leaves in the middle and bottom canopy. Few indigenous parasitoids (both identified and unidentified) have been recorded on this host.
