Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the non-native pest rugose spiraling whitefly (RSW), Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin causes headaches for resource-poor farmers of Odisha. In this context, the Central Horticultural Experiment Station (ICAR-IIHR), Bhubaneswar, extends its helping hand to coconut and banana growers of various locations of Cuttack, as per emergent overnight telephonic communication received from the needy farmers. As the urgent direction of Dr. G.C. Acharya, Head (I/C), CHES, Bhubaneswar, Shri Satyapriya Singh, Scientist (Entomology) made a visit to Ganeswarpur, Satyabhamapur & Arilo Sasan areas of Cuttack. The RSW heavily ravaged the coconut plantations of every household in the observed locations. The banana plants of the kitchen garden were also not left by this destructive pest. The detailed investigation clarified that the incidence was occurred due to the high prevalence of RSW. The damage was caused by both immature and adult stages of RSW congregating at the leaf's lower side. Large amounts of phloem sap drained from the plant system paramount with black fungus growth led to wilting and dwindling the production. Key informant, Mr. Sangram Keshari Pani, from Ganeswarpur, Jagatpur, revealed that the pest was severe on the 3rd of September, 2021. All the farmers of that locations were expressed their views about the pest damage incidence. Likewise, the Satyabhamapur area's coconut plantations were heavily infested by RSW.
Further, the investigations from another location Arilo Sasan signified that RSW highly damaged both coconut and below planted banana. The upper surface of banana fonds is fully covered with black fungus due to the copious exudates of honeydew by RSW (Fig. 1g). The RSW was identified based on the occurrence (spiral pattern), the bigger size associated with white flocculent matter coverage over the body surface. Although the RSW was reported in the late part of 2020 in Odisha, we speculate the staggered and untimely rainfall coupled with high relative humidity might cause the sudden upsurge of the RSW. Moreover, a detailed study is required to unveil its unintentional coverage. Many farmers from other parts of Salepur, Cuttack, also expressed that the RSW was highly infested during the first week of September. A total of ten locations was investigated across the Cuttack district. Installation of yellow sticky trap on palm trunk and neem oil 1% @1ml/lt along with detergent powder @ 10 grams in 2-3 sprays at fortnight interval was advised as management measures against RSW by Shri S. Singh, scientist. Awareness about natural enemies such as Encarsia sp was highlighted as the primary defense to RSW. Further, Shri S. Singh, Scientist emphasized regular monitoring as the key strategies to track the RSW status for timely management of RSW. We acknowledge Dr V. Sridhar, PS (Entomology), ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru; Dr NBV Chalapathi Rao, Asso. Professor (Entomology), Dr. YSR Horticultural University, Andhra Pradesh; and Dr M. Raghuraman, Professor (Entomology), Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi for their valuable guidance and necessary information. The investigation was conducted by Shri Satyapriya Singh, Scientist (Entomology) with the help of Mr. Idrish Ali (Technical staff), and Mr. Pintu Sahoo (Supporting staff) under the instruction and supervision of Dr. G.C. Acharya, Head, I/C, CHES, ICAR-IIHR, Bhubaneswar.
Fig. 1: Damage infestation by RSW on coconut and banana. a, b: infestation on coconut leaflet; c: adult RSW; d: occurrence on leaf petiole; e: fruit coverage; f: damage incidence on a banana leaf; g: complete coverage of sooty mould on upper surface of banana leaf; h. heavy infestation of RSW on both coconut and banana plants; i: Inspection of RSW damaged coconut leaf and discussion with farmers