Journal of. Spices & Aromatic Crops 3 (2) : 164-166, 1994 164

New records of and mite pests of spice crops in Andaman Islands, India K VEENAKUMARP, PRASHANTH MOHANRAJ & H R RANGANATH Central Agricultural Research Institute Post Box No. 181, Port Blair, Andamans - 744 101, India. ABSTRACT Eighteen species of and one species of mite are reported for the first time from seven spice crops viz., cinnamon, clove, black pepper, nutmeg, curry leaf, chillies and , from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Key words: Andamans, insects, mites, new records, spice crops.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are of Central Agricultural Research Insti­ a group of 306 islands situated about tute (situated at Garacharma and 1200 km off the eastern coast of penin­ Sippighat). Their status as herbivores sular India. Spice crops were among the was established by rearing the imma­ early crops to be introduced for cultiva­ ture stages collected to adulthood in the tion in these islands. However they laboratory on their respective hosts. occupy only 597 ha (Anonymous 1990), Specimens of adults collected were sent a meagre 1.4 per cent of the total to Natural History Museum, London, cultivated area in these islands. The for establishing their identities. insect and mite pests of these crops Cinnamon (Cinnamomum, verum remain largely unknown with the Bercht & Pres!.) exception of studies on the entomofauna of cinnamon (Bhumannavar et al . 1991; Seven species of insects were found Veenakumari & Prashanth Mohanraj attacking cinnamon in addition to those 1993) wherein they list 15 insect species reported earlier (Bhumannavar et aZ. damaging the crop. The current study 1991; Veenakumari & Prashanth indicates the presence of 18 species of Mohanraj 1993). insects and 1 species of mite as potential pests of seven spice crops, viz., cinna­ : Geometridae mon, nutmeg, clove, black pepper, tur­ i) Fascellina castanea (Moore) : This meric, chillies and curry leaf, on these looper which appears during October - islands. November is a defoliator. It measures Potential pests were collected about 2.5 cm and is blackish-brown with during irregular visits to the two farms three pairs of tubercles on the abdomen. lCorresponding address: Post Box No. 431, Junglighat, Port Blair, Andamans - 744 103, India. and mite pests of spices 165

first pair of tubercles are reddish Clove (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) white spots while the remaining Merr. & Perry) are blackish. There are two iJ Lepidoptera,' Noctuidae spots behind the last pair of There is a median tubercle Barasa acronycoides Walker: This is a ito·ward' the anal end. The larva prefers twig borer seen during October. The leaves. larva is brownish with a light brown head and black thoracic and anal plates. Hyposidra infixaria Walker : This is The larva which measures 1 cm in greenish looper with white markings, length bores into and finally pupates and feeds on leaves. It is relatively more within a twig; consequently the shoot abundant in January. dries up. iiD CleOl'a alienaria (Walker) sub sp. Scolytidae rasanaria Swinhoe: This sub species which is endemic to the Andamans is a ii) Dryococtiops coffea (Eggers) : . defoliator. The larva is green with a iii) Hypothenemus birmanus (EichofD light yellow head with a faint greenish -yellow lateral band confined to the Both adults and larvae of these species posterior end; the anterior and posterior are twig borers. The pest infestation ends have black markings on the dorsal results in drying and consequent death surface. of attacked twigs. Tortricidae Homoptera " Derbidae iv) Lopharcha sp. : The small green iv) Devadanda sp. : The nymphs and larvae of this , measuring 0.5-0.7 adults suck sap from tender shoots em in length, bore into terminal shoots resulting in loss of vigour of affected resulting in wilting of affected parts. plants. Coleoptera " Chrysomelidae Black pepper (Piper nigrun L.) v) Dercitina sp. : These are small black Homoptera " Aleyrodidae beetles with a brown thorax. Feeding by i) Genus et sp. indet : Adults were found the adults results in holes in the leaves. in large numbers on undersurfaces of They prefer tender leaves and occur in leaves. Their feeding resulted in white large numbers in December. speckles on them. Diptera " Agramyzidae Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) vi) ? Melanagromyza sp. : The maggots Homoptera " Coccidae are leaf miners, making dark brown tunnels in young leaves and occur in i) Mulviscutulus mangiferae (Green) " December. Both adults and nymphs suck sap from shoots. Heteraptera " Platyspidae Pseudococcidae vii) Coptosoma variegata (H.S.) : The green adults and nymphs are found in ii) Pseudococcus sp. nr. cryptes Hempel large numbers during April - May. They : This species sucks sap and breeds on suck sap from tender shoots and fruits. shoots. Veenakumari, Mohanraj & Ranganath 166

Curry leaf (Murraya koenigii (L.) None of the pests listed above were Spreng.) serious on the spice crops in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is Lepidoptera : Tortricidae however possible that with increase in ' i)Adoxophyes moderatana Walker: The area of cultivation of these crops at least •.,~.o,:.ll· •. larva webs leaves and feeds from within. some may attain the status of key pests. It is dirty white with a brownish head. Acknowledgements Homoptera : Psyllidae We are highly obliged to Dr. A K Bandyopadhyay, Director, Central Agri­ ii) Diaphorina citri Kawayama : Adults cultural Research Institute, Andamans and nymphs suck sap from leaves. for his constant encouragement. We Adults are brownish. David & also thank the entomologists ofInterna­ Kumaraswami (1978) reported this spe­ tional Institute of Entomology and cies from mainland India on curry Natural History Museum, London, who leaves. kindly identified the insects. Acarina : Tetranychidae References iii) Eutetranyclws sp. : These reddish Anonymous 1990 Andaman and Nicobar brown mites breed on leaves and are Islands : Basic Statistics, Statis­ found scattered on the upper surface tical Bureau, Andaman and and are sometimes concentrated near Nicobar Administration. the midrib and veins. Feeding results in speckling of leaves; severely affected Bhummannavar B S, Prashanth leaves wither. Mohanraj, Ranganath M R, Jacob TK& BandyopadhyayAK 1991 Chillies (Capsicum annuum L.) Insects of Agricultural Impor­ Homoptera : Coccidae tance in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Central Agricultural Re­ i) Pulvinaria sp. nr. urbicola Cockerell search Institute, Port Blair, : The adults and nymphs are found Andamans. sucking sap from shoots. David B V & Kumaraswami T 1978 Turmeric (Curcuma Zonga L.) Elements of Economic Entomol­ ogy. Popular Book Depot, Madras. Lepidoptera : Hesperidae Veenakumari K & Prashanth Mohanraj i) curvifascia C. & R. Felder 1993 Insect pests of cinnamon : This hesperid is a leaf roller, the larva (Cinnamomum verum Bercht & of which resides and feeds from within Presl.) in the Andaman and the leaf roll. It is a minor pest seen Nicobar islands. J. Plant. Crops during November. 21 : 67-69.