The following insect pests are known to attack most commonly in Amaryllis and Hippeastrum plants.

I. Caterpillar

Poly tela gloriosae is the causal organism. It is the most common caterpillar which attack the plants during June-August. They eat all the leaves within 4 -5 days.

Control: Application of parathion at 0.02% controlled the caterpillars within 48 hours.

2. Thrips

Taeniothrips simplex is the causal organism. These thrips suck the juice from leaves, flower stalks and flowers.

Control: It can be controlled by weekly application of dust containing chlordane or dieldrin.

3. Aphids, mealybugs and scale insects

These insects puncture the tissues and suck the sap of the surface.

Control: These insects at younger stages may be controlled with a spray containing 1-5 g of nicotine sulphate and 25 g of soap chips in one gallon of water or by 0.2% of malathion at 10 day interval.

4. Mites

Spider mites (Tetroychus bimaculatus) Bulb scalmites (Tarsonemas laticeps) and Bulb mites (Rhizoglyphus echinopsus and R. Solani) are the common insect pests.

These mites damage the tissue and suck the sap from beneath the surface.



Control: The spider mites may be controlled by spraying of oramite @ 0.2 1b/gallon of water. For controlling bulb scale mites and bulb mites dipping in water at 110°F for 60 minutes is suggested. After treatment the bulbs should be allowed to cool gradually before planting.

5. Other insects

In addition to the above insects and pests, grasshoppers, (Romalea microptera), blister beetle (Epsicanla strigosa) and narcissus bulbfly (Lampetia equestris) causes damage to plant.




Next : Harvesting of Amaryllis flowers and Hippeastrum flowers