Abstract:
Laboratory and field investigations were conducted to identify the natural enemies of Mikania micrantha H.B.K. and to evaluate their efficacy as biocontrol agents. During a survey on the distribution of Mikania in Kerala, pests seen on this weed were collected. Nineteen species of insect pests and a species of mite belonging to 15 families and eight orders were identified. Nature and extent of damage caused by these different pests on Mikania were studied. Among them tea mosquito bug (Helopeltis theivora) caused serious damage on Mikania. All these pests are polyphagous in nature. So further scope for utilizing them as biocontrol agent is limited.
