Abstract:
Populations of cashew mirid Helopeltis antonii Sign, were studied in
1976-1977 by sampling with a light trap, following the development of an artificial
infestation, and observations of the presence or absence of the insect were made in
randomly selected squares. A population build up in mature cashew accompanies
appeared to be directly dependent on development of tender ieaves and inflorescence
from September or October to February coinciding with the monsoonal rainfall, reaching
a peak in January. The pest was not present on cashew from April to September.
Our data suggested that the extent to which the mirid utilized vegetative
tissues varied and depended on the age and nutritional changes occurring in the
external parenchyma tissues which were the source of their food.
