STATUS AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF MAJOR INSECT AND MITE PESTS ATTACKING CITRUS AT SYLHET REGION IN BANGLADESH

ABSTRACT: The study was conducted to determine the pest status and spatial distribution of major insect and mite pests of citrus in Jaintapur, Sylhet, Bangladesh during May to October 2014. In this study, twelve insect and one mite species were found to attack mandarin (Citrus reticulata), sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) and jara lemon (Citrus pennivesiculata) plants. Among them four insect species viz., lemon butterfly (Papilio demoleus L.), citrus leafminer (Phyllocnistis citrella St.), asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayana), spined citrus bug (Biprorulus bibax Breddin) and one mite species, citrus red mite (Panonychus citri McGregor) have been found as major pests. Citrus leafminer was found as the most devastating pest (24.29%) followed by lemon butterfly (21.40%) and spined citrus bug (14.29%). As per in-situ count of leaf infestation, the highest infestation (60.40%) was caused by citrus red mite while it was the lowest (37.23%) by lemon butterfly. Intermediate level of leaf infestation was recorded in case of citrus leafminer (55.44%) and asian citrus psyllid (52.62%) with no significant difference over the locations. Similar to leaf infestation, no significant difference was found in fruit infestation over the locations.

Keywords: Mandarin, sweet orange, jara lemon, citrus.