Helopeltis theivora

Why in news?

• The United Planters Association of South India (UPASI) has urged the government to immediately intervene and take appropriate steps to control the Tea Mosquito Bug (Helopeltis theivora) problem in the tea plantations in India.

About Helopeltis theivora

• Helopeltis theivora or the tea mosquito bug (TMB) is a major sucking pest of tea in most tea-producing countries.
• The nymphs and adults of the Tea Mosquito Bug (TMB) suck the sap from tender leaves, buds and young shoots, which results in heavy crop losses.

Prevention:

• It can be controlled by using synthetic pesticides. However, in the current 2014 Plant Protection Code (PPC) from the Tea Board of India, only seven pesticides are approved for use in South India.
• With a limited choice of pesticides, tea growers are unable to achieve effective control of tea mosquito bugs.

India’s Tea Production:

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Helopeltis theivora, recently seen in news, is a pest primarily affecting:

(a) Rice

(b) Rubber

(c) Cotton

(d) Tea

Answer