Symptoms of damage

• The cell sap is sucked from the leaves - piercing stylet
• Leaf curling
• Leaves fall off immaturely
• Honey dew secrecation development of sooty mould fungus
• Leaf turns to black in colour and affects photosynthetic activity of the leaves
• Affected trees produce - few blossoms which develop into inspid fruits

Identification of pest

• Nymphs: Are flattened, oval in shape and scale like in appearance
• Adult: Minute insect, shiny black with grey dusting on the body. Wings are extending beyond the tip of the abdomen.

Management

• Collect and destroy the damaged plant parts along with nymphs, pupa and adults
• Spray with 2 ml of chloropyriphos per litre of water
• The entire plant canopy should be drenched with the solution.
• Encourage activity of parasitoids, Encarsia sp., Eretomocerus serius and chlysoperla sp