Survey of the pests of orchids

Abstract

A survey was conducted on the pests of orchids in Trichur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Kottayam districts of Kerala. The grass hopper Oxya chinensis, spiralling white fly Aleurodicus dispersus, flower thrip Megalurothrips distalis, Bihar hairy caterpillar Diacrisia obliqua, tobacco caterpillar Spodoptera litura, red ant Monomorium indicum, beetle pest Lema sp. and banded blister beetle Mylabris pustulata were the different insect pests collected and studied. Non-insect pests studied were sow bug Oniscus aseltus, land snail Arioplianta sp., black slug Anon sp. and grey slug Umax sp.