Leaf gall mite – Aceria pongamiae
Biology

• New flush appear during summer which coincide with the initiation of infestation in which the mites multiply its population on pungam
• Adult mites prefer young leaves for egg laying and the newly hatched nymphs, made injury on leaf surface resulting in formation of pouch galls and disfiguring the structure of leaves
• Multiplication takes place favorably in hot weather conditions

Nature of damage

• Galls formed were solitary, elongate and pouch like with truncate apices on the upper surface of the leaves
• Galls were indeterminate, green coloured, glabrous and hollow inside, provided with a minute escape hole or ostiole and were often twisted and curved
• Galls were found on the leaf lamina, secondary veins, midrib and on tender terminal shoots
• Mite infestation drastically affects the photosynthetic activity of the plant, in turn leading to a reduction of biomass

Management

• Clipping of affected leaves