Introduction 

Cassava, a staple crop for millions worldwide, faces significant challenges from various pests that can severely impact yield and quality. Effective pest management is crucial to ensuring the health and productivity of cassava plants. In this blog, we'll explore the common pests that threaten cassava, the damage they cause, and integrated pest management strategies to control and mitigate their impact. By understanding and implementing these practices, farmers can protect their crops, improve their harvests, and contribute to sustainable agriculture. Let's dive into the world of cassava pest management and discover the best practices to keep your cassava fields thriving.

Cassava mealy bug: Paracoccus marginatus

Symptoms of damage:

Sucking of sap at cassava shoot tips, on the lower surface of leaves, and on stems. During feeding it injects a toxin into the cassava plant

Causing deformation of terminal shoots, which become stunted

Resulting in compression of terminal leaves into "bunchy tops"

Length of internodes is reduced, and stems are distorted

Identification of pest:

Cassava mealy bug is pinkish in colour Its body is surrounded by very short filaments and covered with a fine coating of wax.

Paracoccus marginatus

Management:

Spray Phospho Power

Summary

Cassava growers beware of the cassava mealybug, a tiny pink pest with a waxy coat. These sap-suckers target cassava shoots, leaves, and stems, injecting toxins as they feed. This disrupts growth, causing deformed shoots with bunched leaves and stunted, distorted stems. Thankfully, there are ways to combat these mealybugs besides resorting to chemical sprays.

FAQs:

How does a cassava mealybug infestation affect the yield of cassava plants? 

What are some of the signs of a mild cassava mealybug infestation compared to a severe one? 

Besides affecting cassava growth, does the cassava mealybug have any other negative impacts?