First Report on the Outbreak of a Mirid Bug, Mecistoscelis sp. in Bamboo Plantations in Karnataka, India

Though many sucking pests are reported from different species, their incidence was sporadic and was not on epidemic proportions. The bamboo mirid bug, Mecistoscelis sp. (Hemiptera: Miridae) for the first time attained epidemic proportions in a plantation at Koppa, Chickmangalur district of Karnataka during 2009 and 2010. The pest was polyphagous feeding on 4 species of bamboos Bambusa balcooa, B. pallida, Dendrocalamus asper and D. strictus. The severity of attack was studied and upto 100% attack was observed in some plants. Application of 0.05% of synthetic Pyrethroids or Dichlorvos as spray on affected leaves could effectively control the pest infestation.