The document discusses several pests that affect tea plants. It describes 5 major pests in detail: 1) Helopeltis atonii (Tea mosquito bug), 2) Andraca bipunctata (Bunch caterpillar), 3) Eterusia magnifica, 4) Empoasca flavescens (Tea green fly), and 5) Shot-hole borer (Xyleborus fornicates). For each pest, it provides information on appearance, lifecycle, damage caused, and potential control methods. The lifecycles typically include eggs, nymph/larval, and adult stages, with time periods varying by season. Control is achieved through hand picking,

1. Pest of Tea

2. Introduction :
• Tea plants are perennial shrubs of Genus Camellia
(C.thea) which are grown as plantation crops in
different parts of world.
• Since these are perennial and continue to grow for
many years , they prone to pest infestation of
various kinds. Tea crops provide ideal and long
lasting conditions for growth and propagation of
pest as there less chance of total harvastation.

3. •G.M Das (1965) have described 147
types of different insects which
infest tea crops.
•Tea pest can be controlled by
efficient cultural and mechanical
methods and non residual
insecticides is preferred in place of
residual ones.

5. •Some of the pests are discussed below :
1.Helopeltis atonii (Tea mosquito bug).
•2. Andraca bipunctata(The bunch
Caterpillar).
•3.Eterusia magnifica
•4.Empoasca flavescens . (The Tea Green
Fly).
•5. Shot-Hole Borer : Xyleborus fornicates
(Scolytidae: Coleoptera).

6. 1) Helopeltis atonii signoret (Tea mosquito
bug)
• These mainly feed on tea plant but a number of alternate
host plant as well like cashew-nut, guava-fruit and some
medicinal plants.
• GENERAL APPEARANCE :
• Adult are cylindrical elongated about 6-8 mm in lenght and
very active. Are good fliers and have mixed red, Black and
yellow coloration.
• Male have a blackish area near shoulder which
• is orange in females.

8. 2 Days
5-27 days
12-58
days
Life cycle
completed in
19-87 days

9. During daytime adults remain concealed under
leaves.
The larvae of H.antonii are red and ant like.
LIFE HISTORY:
As soon as emerge out both sexes mate and
female lays 500 eggs within 2 days of mating.
The eggs are inserted within the tender parts
of the plant more commonly in axis of leaves or
in inflorescence or buds by females.
EGGS:
The eggs are elongated and sausage shaped.
Depending upon season, they may Hatch into 5-
27 days.

10. •NYMPH: The wingless nymphs are red and because of
delicate legs look like ant or spider.
• They feed on host sap.
• The nymphal period last for 12-15 days in summer while 53-
58 days in winter. The nymph undergoes 5 modulations to
become adult.
•DAMAGE:
• Nymphs and bugs both are destructive stages. They
puncture leaves from many areas to suck juice.
• They eject saliva on feeding site which later undergo
necrosis with brownish patches on leaf and whole leaf later
falls down.
• If infestation is severe the plant may suffer Defoliation and
shoot dies as a result plant look like broom.

11. Control:
•The pest population can be reduced
by hand picking of nests in morning
and evening to kill adults and
nymphs easily.
•The spraying of malathion 0.05% on
tea plant is very effective. One
should be very careful for residual
problems of toxicity , so low values
of pesticide should be used.

12. •Its common and serious pest causing great
loss to tea production. During daytime large
number of caterpillar of this pest huddle
together on the branches of its host plant,
hence called the bunch caterpillars.
•GENERAL APPEARANCE: The wing span of
male moth ranges from 33-45mm and 45-
58mm in females. Adults brown in color.
Wings have dark wavy lines and two white
spots near outer margins.

15. 7 -11 days
3-4 weeks
16-29
days
Life cycle complete in
50-75 days in summer

16. •The hind wings are brown and pale in
anterior region. The antennae are
bipectinate(branched) but as compared to
females the males have more developed
and bipectinate antennae.
•LIFE HISTORY: After copulation female
lays eggs in cluster in 100-120 eggs on
lower surface of leaves.
•EGGS: Yellowish in color and are arranged
linearly by female moths. Within 7-11 days
caterpillar hatches.

17. • LARVA: After emergence the caterpillars, first of
all, feed on their egg shells then lacerate leaf
tissues and then finally consume whole leaf.
• These caterpillars remain clustered in
characteristic bunches thus called BUNCH
CATERPILLARS.
• The fully grow and well matured larva measures
65mm in length.

18. • The larva is TAWNY-YELLOW with reddish tinge and
broad blackish-brown transverse strips.
•PUPA: For pupation larva descend from host
plant and pupate on the ground among dried leaves.
• The pupal period varies in different seasons , in
summer 16-29 days, in rainy season about 46 days
and winter 68-120 days.
• The pupa is reddish brown in color. 25 mm in size.

19. •DAMAGE: The damage is caused by
caterpillars. They eat foliage of plant.
• Initially they feed on surface tissue only but
later affect whole leaf bladder.
•The caterpillars move in groups and before
going down for pupation a bunch of
caterpillars may destroy several bushes of tea
plantation.
•CONTROL: As caterpillars live in cluster
so their nest can be destroy by hand picking.
•Treatment with 0.05% endosulfan or 0.1%
Landane can keep the plant protected from it.

20. • E.magnifica is commonly found in sub-tropical areas.
•GENERAL APPEARANCE: Adult moth look like
butterfly. They are beautifully coloured having bluish-black,
yellow and white patches. Fully grown moth measure 55-
65mm across expanded wings. They are diurnal in habit and
slow fliers.

22. Life cycle
complete
s in 55-70
days in
May –
June
8-12 days30-37 days
18-21 days

23. • LIFE HISTORY: After copulation, the female moth lay eggs
on the lower side of leaves or on branches in masses. A
female may lay 500 or more eggs.
• EGGS: These are white and elongated and larvae hatch
from it in about 8-12 days.
• LARVA: Larval life lasts for 4-5 weeks during which it
undergoes five instars. The larvae are brownish or reddish
brick in colour. A fully mature larva measures 25mm in
length. Larva feed on mature tea leaves in night. During day
time they remain hidden in ground or amidst the thick
bunches of leaves.

24. PUPA: Pupation takes place on leaves. Cocoon is pinkish in
colour. Pupal period last for 18-21 days. Generally four
generations are completed in an year. Time taken to
complete single lifecycle varies according to season. During
MAY-JUNE lifecycle is completed in 55 to 70 days.
.DAMAGE: The damage is mainly caused by caterpillar
which feed on mature leaf. In severe cases bark and young
leaves of tea plant are also infested.
•CONTROL:
• Destruction of larvae and pupa can be controlled by hand
picking of nest.
• Spraying of crop with 0.05% LINDANE or 0.05% endosulfan
or 0.2% carbaryl is recommended. In severe infestation
0.1% Malathion may be sprayed.

25. • This is widely distributed pest found in whole Palearctic
regions, United states of America, East Africa, Brazil,
Ceylon.
•GENERAL APPEARANCE: The Adults are small and
yellowish- green jassids, less than ¼ Inch in length. The
head is prolongated forward as smooth, flat, triangular
structure. The thorax is simple. The hind legs have two
parallel rows of spines which extends all along the hind
tibiae.

27. Adult
(Male and
Female)
EggNymphs
5-7 days
6-13
days
8-22 days
Life cycle
completes in
19-42 days

28. •LIFE HISTORY: The female lacerate the leaves tissue and
young stems and insert eggs inside the veins and mid ribs
of the leaves.
•EGGS: A female lays eggs 15 to 37 in number. The
oviposition period is 5 to 7 days. Depending upon the
temperature egg hatches into nymph within 6 to 13 days.
Hatching period is longer in summer as compared to winter.
•NYMPH: The nymph undergoes 5 instars and becomes adult
in 8 to 22 days. Life cycle is completed in a span of 19 to 42
days. The average longevity of male adult is 9 days,
whereas the female lives for 17 days. In certain cases it has
been recorded that an adult may live upto 102 days.

29. •The insect remain active throughout the year
but maximum population growth occurs during
NOVEMBER to JANUARY.
•DAMAGE: Both the adults and nymphs are
destructive. They feed upon the sap of leaves.
By sucking the apical shoot they prevent the
growth of the plant. The early symptoms, as a
result of the infections of this pest , is the
appearance of yellow or brownish patches at
the margin of the leaves, followed by
distortion of leaf veins and curling of leaves.
Such a symptom is called as Rim Blight

30. • Ultimately, the leaf becomes brittle and dries.
Beside tea, this pest also attack castor, cotton,
Lady’s finger, brinjal, potato, etc.
•CONTROL: Owing to its minute size
destruction of this pest by hand picking is
not possible.
•Chemical control involves spraying of
Malathion, Endosulfan, DDT, Parathion,
BHC, Phosphamidon, Carbaryl etc.

31. 5) Shot-Hole Borer :Xyleborus
fornicates
• Damaging stage- Adult
• Nature of damage- It makes holes on the
• roots and on the lower part of main trunk
• Grubs, upon hatching feed on a fungus
• Monocrosporoum embrocium

34. Life cycle:
•• Fecundity-
•• Incubation- 10-12 days
•• Larval period- 45-60days
•• Pupal period- 20-30 days
•• The adults are small in size brown,
reddish
•brown or black in colour, head
completely
•bending downwards with blunt end.
•• Activity- Winter months

35. Larvae Pupae Adults

36. Damage:
• Yellowing of lateral branches.
• Small pin holes on main trunk.
• Oozing of fiberous material from
the trunk.

37. Control:
•• Avoid water logging
•• Swab Carbaryl paste around stem
upto 2 feet
•from base
•• Drenching with Chloropyriphos 2.5
ml/ ltr

38. Thank You