Documentation of Insect-pests in Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii H. Bolus) in Kerala and Their Management
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Surveys were conducted across three districts of Kerala, namely Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Wayanad, to document the insect pests and natural enemies associated with gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii H. Bolus) cultivars. The major pests identified were aphids (Macrosiphum euphorbiae Thomas), scales (Icerya sp.), thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood and Haplothrips sp.), and mites (Tetranychus sp.). Natural enemies recorded included spiders such as Plexippus paykulli (Audouin), Theridion sp., Oxyopes birmanicus (Thorell) and Ptocassius sp. Further, the efficacy of various insecticide treatments was evaluated under polyhouse conditions at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram for the management of Tetranychus sp. and S. dorsalis in gerbera. The results demonstrated that spiromesifen 22.9% SC applied at 96 g a.i./ha was highly effective in managing mites and thrips, offering a promising solution for pest management in gerbera cultivation.
Authors: Paladugu Yasasvi, Ambily Paul, Gadde Anil Kumar, Anitha N
Institution: Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4407410739