Sucking insect pest complex associated with black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), black gold of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka

Studies were carried out to know the sucking insect pest complex associated with black pepper, a profitable mixed crop of Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. Studies carried through field survey indicated the presence of eight different species of sucking insects in major pepper growing areas. Amongst them, coconut scale, Aspidiotus destructor Signoret and mussel scale, Lepidosaphes sp. were found to cause serious damage. Leaf gall thrips, Liothrips karnyi (Bagnall) was most common in all the pepper grown areas and nurseries. Two species of mealy bugs viz., Planococcus citri (Risso) and Ferrisia virgata (Ckll.) were also recorded. Recently introduced insect pest, coconut rugose spiraling whitefly was also found infesting bush pepper grown in pots.