June 2013  Volume 26  Issue 1 Indian Journal of Hill Farming 55 Recent Scenario of Insect-pests of Guava in North East India and Their Eco-friendly Management D. M. FIRAKE*, G. T. BEHERE, N. A. DESHMUKH, P. D. FIRAKE, N. S. AZAD THAKUR ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya-793103 INTRODUCTION Guava is one of the most refereed and legendary fruit because of its hardy and positive bearing nature, high vitamin C content and more income with minimum inputs (Singh 2010). In India, guava is cultivated on 204.8 thousand hectares of land and production is about 2462.3 million tons (Anonymous 2011). Large number of insect pests has been reported to occur on guava at various growth stages, but a few are a real menace to the cultivation of this crop. More than 80 species of insects and mites have been recorded on guava trees affecting the growth and yield. Major pest of guava in the NEH region includes trunk borer, Aristobia testudo (Coleoptra: Cerambycidae). A. testudo is the most destructive pest of Litchi in China and severe incidence of this beetle was first observed in Meghalaya on guava during 1997. Recently, the same pest was also found on pigeon-pea at the adult stage. About three species of fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, B. cucurbutae and B. tau (Diptera, Tephritidae) found to attack guava fruits; B. dorsalis being the dominant. Maximum activity of fruit flies is observed during August to the December reaching its peak during September. Two species of bark eating caterpillars, Indarbela quadrinotata and I. tetraonis are commonly found in the region. Sucking pests includes Mealy scale, Chloropulvinaria psidii (Hemiptera, Coccidae), Mealy bugs Ferrisia virgata, Plannococcus citri, P. lilacinus (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae), Tea mosquito bugs, Helopeltis antonii (Hemiptera: Miridae), aphids, jassids, etc (Azad Thakur et al. 2009; Kalaishekar et al. 2008; Shylesha et al. 2006). Besides, recently elephant beetles of genus Xyllotrupes (Coleoptera: Scarabidae) was found to be a new threat to the guava farming in the region. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Bio-intensive pest management in guava Bio-intensive pest management (BIPM) is essentially a component of integrated pest management. The primary goal of bio-intensive pest management is to provide guidelines and options for the effective management of pests and beneficial organisms in an ecological context. It will help to reduce the dependence on chemical pesticides and ecological deterioration. BIPM includes bio- pesticides derived from microbes, parasitoids, predators, botanicals and all conventional non- chemical methods or use of need based and less residual chemicals. Indian farming, which is going through a transition phase, is slowly but surely adopting the ways and means of pest management for sustainable agriculture. Following pest management practices are suggested to reduce the guava pest problems in north east India. Cultural practices 1. Deep ploughing of basin avoiding root cuts, to expose soil inhabiting/resting stages of insects, pathogen and nematodes. 2. Select deep, well leveled and well drained soil. 3. Use resistant rootstocks and select disease free nursery plants. 4. Avoid flood and channel irrigation. 5. Avoid injuries to trunk and roots during farm operations. 6. Adopt proper spacing, irrigation and nutrient management. 7. Avoid application of high nitrogenous fertilizers. 8. Use neem cake @ 1 ton/ ha under assured moisture conditions in nematodes infected field only. 9. For the management of mealy bugs, intermingling branches should be pruned and * Corresponding authors E-mail: dfirake@gmail.com Indian Journal of Hill Farming 26(1):55-57 Available online at www.kiran.nic.in Short Communication