Identification, Symptoms and nature of Identification, Symptoms and nature of damage: Shoot Gall Psyllid and Leaf gall damage: Shoot Gall Psyllid and Leaf gall

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What are Galls?What are Galls?

Galls are abnormal growths of plant cells formed in Galls are abnormal growths of plant cells formed in response to egg-laying by adult insects or feeding by response to egg-laying by adult insects or feeding by immatures.immatures.

Eggs are usually laid in actively growing plant tissue. Eggs are usually laid in actively growing plant tissue.

The effected plant tissue quickly surrounds the egg or The effected plant tissue quickly surrounds the egg or immature insect, and protects and provides food for the immature insect, and protects and provides food for the gall-maker until it matures. gall-maker until it matures.

Gall-makers may live in individual or communal Gall-makers may live in individual or communal chambers inside the gall.chambers inside the gall.

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Mango Shoot gall psylla Mango Shoot gall psylla Apsylla cistellataApsylla cistellata(Homoptera : Psyllidae)(Homoptera : Psyllidae)

  It is a serious pest of mango in northern India. It is a serious pest of mango in northern India. It is reported from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and It is reported from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Terrai regions of northern India.Terrai regions of northern India.

Source: www.agritech.tnau.ac.in

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IdentificationIdentification

Adults: 3-4 mm long with black head and thorax and Adults: 3-4 mm long with black head and thorax and light brown abdomen. Membranous wings.light brown abdomen. Membranous wings.

Nymphs: Freshly hatched nymphs are yellowish in Nymphs: Freshly hatched nymphs are yellowish in colour, but change in size and colour with timecolour, but change in size and colour with time

Nymphs

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Life CycleLife CycleIt has a single generation per year. It has a single generation per year.

Adult females lay eggs into the midrib of leaves in March- Adult females lay eggs into the midrib of leaves in March- April. April.

Eggs hatch after 200 days. Eggs hatch after 200 days.

This pest creates green conical galls in leaf axis. This pest creates green conical galls in leaf axis.

Five nymphal instars are present and nymphal period is 140 Five nymphal instars are present and nymphal period is 140 days. days.

Second instar nymph migrates to the already formed gall .Second instar nymph migrates to the already formed gall .

Adults may live up to 30-72 h.Adults may live up to 30-72 h.

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Symptoms and Nature of damageSymptoms and Nature of damage

The activity of the pest starts from August. The activity of the pest starts from August.

The galls dry out after emergence of adults The galls dry out after emergence of adults in March. in March.

The adult females lay eggs in the midribs as The adult females lay eggs in the midribs as well as in lateral axis of new leaves. well as in lateral axis of new leaves.

Nymphs emerge from eggs during August-Nymphs emerge from eggs during August-September and crawl to the adjacent buds September and crawl to the adjacent buds to suck cell sap. As a result of feeding, the to suck cell sap. As a result of feeding, the buds develop into hard conical green galls. buds develop into hard conical green galls.

The galls are usually seen during The galls are usually seen during September-October. ]September-October. ]

Consequently, there is no fruit set.Consequently, there is no fruit set.

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Mango leaf gall midge Mango leaf gall midge Procontarinia sppProcontarinia spp(Diptera: Ceccidomydiae)(Diptera: Ceccidomydiae)

SymptomsSymptomsMango leaf gall midge produce wart-like galls on Mango leaf gall midge produce wart-like galls on leaves resulting in reduced photosynthesis if left leaves resulting in reduced photosynthesis if left uncontrolled leading to leaf drop and lowered fruit uncontrolled leading to leaf drop and lowered fruit production.production.

It is spread by wind currents and movement of It is spread by wind currents and movement of infested plant material.. infested plant material.. 

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Life CycleLife Cycle

Midges are very small flies, 1-2 mm in length. Midges are very small flies, 1-2 mm in length.

The female lays eggs into the tissue of young leaves The female lays eggs into the tissue of young leaves leaving a small reddish spot. The leaf tissue under the leaving a small reddish spot. The leaf tissue under the red spot becomes swollen and soft. red spot becomes swollen and soft.

Gall formation begins within seven days and attains a Gall formation begins within seven days and attains a maximum diameter of 3-4 mm. maximum diameter of 3-4 mm.

Adults usually emerge from the underside of the leaf Adults usually emerge from the underside of the leaf leaving the pupal skin protruding from the emergence leaving the pupal skin protruding from the emergence hole.hole.

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Nymphs of Mango Shoot gall psylla Nymphs of Mango Shoot gall psylla Apsylla cistellata Apsylla cistellata emerge during emerge during August September and suck cell sap from adjacent buds. As a result of August September and suck cell sap from adjacent buds. As a result of feeding, buds develop into hard conical green galls.The galls are usually feeding, buds develop into hard conical green galls.The galls are usually seen during September-October.Consequently there is no flowering and seen during September-October.Consequently there is no flowering and fruit setting. Nymphs pass winter inside the galls.fruit setting. Nymphs pass winter inside the galls.

Mango leaf gall midge produces wart-like galls on leaves resulting in Mango leaf gall midge produces wart-like galls on leaves resulting in reduced photosynthesis, leading to leaf drop and lowered fruit production. reduced photosynthesis, leading to leaf drop and lowered fruit production. Younger trees may die while older trees fail to recover normal growth after Younger trees may die while older trees fail to recover normal growth after repeated attacks.repeated attacks.

SummarySummary

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