The sugarcane woolly aphid, Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner (Hemiptera: Aphididae): its biology, pest status and control

Sugarcane woolly aphid, Ceratovacuna lanigera Zehntner has been recently reported in outbreak proportions from western and southern India. Though the pest was first reported from West Bengal in 1958 and later from other parts of Northeast India, it had not made its way to other parts of India. The pest breeds on plants of the family Poaceae, but has been also observed on members of Bixaceae, Theaceae and Combretaceae. It has been recorded on ten species of plants in India. It reproduces parthenogenetically and has an anholocyclic (absence of sexually producing generation) life cycle. Thirty-eight natural enemies have been recorded on the aphid from different parts of the world. Recent surveys in the pest-affected areas of Maharashtra (western India) and Karnataka (southern India) have yielded several indigenous predators which include coccinellids, neuropterans, syrphids and a pyralid. Integrated pest management involving mainly mechanical and biological control appears to be the best option. There is ample scope for more directed work on this important emerging pest, especially in the areas of pest ecology and distribution. The role of resistant varieties, and biological, cultural and mechanical control in managing the pest needs to be carefully evaluated.