COFFEE BOARD SAYS NOT TO PANIC ABOUT LOCUST;

Madikeri May 12, 2006

The regional coffee research station, Chettalli has asked the planters not to panic over the incidence of Locust attack at Virajpet taluk.

Deputy Director C.B.Prakashan has said that the team of experts from Coffee Board paid a visit to the estates reportedly attacked by Locust and inspected the damage yesterday. According to him, the team of experts examined the pest and its nature of spread and damage and came to the conclusion that it belongs to the family of Loctus (Acrididae)

It is largely found in one Hookadu estate in South Kodagu on different vegetation including coffee, banana, pepper and shade trees. In another estate, it was noticed only on Guava tree, he said.

The pest in its nymph stages known as “hoppers” is not in swarm like the desert locust, but in isolated groups in gregarious habit. But these pests are skelitonising the leaves like coffee, plantain, pepper and shade trees in certain areas. Though the pest is very rarely seen in western ghat, it is not a migratory locust, he said. Favourable summer with good shower would have caused the birth of these, the expert observed. They said that the present outbreak is not alarming and it may subside.

The board has advised the planters to take control measures in war footing. stating that controlling by sparaying insecticides is very difficult, the deputy director has advised the planters to use a crude way of catching and killing .