Tea Mosquito Bug

About Tea Mosquito bug: 

• It is also known by the name Helopeltis theivora.
• It is considered to be a serious pest of tea which damages more in most shaded areas.
• 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.
• After the formation of the PPC (Plant Protection Code) of the Tea Board of India in 2014 many pesticides were removed from the approved list of PPC to produce Indian tea safe and free from any harmful pesticides.
• Currently, in the recent PPC version of 14, only seven pesticides are approved for use in South India.

Key Facts about Tea Cultivation

• It is grown in tropical and subtropical climates.
• Soil: It requires deep and fertile well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter.
• Tea bushes require a warm and moist frost-free climate all through the year.
• Temperature: It requires 20°-30°C for its growth.
• Rainfall: It needs 150-300 cm annual rainfall.
• Major tea-producing states: Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura.

Q1) What is the characteristics of the Subtropical region?

Subtropical climates are typically characterized by hot, humid summers and mild winters. These climates are found between the tropics and the temperate zones, typically between 23.5 and 35 degrees latitude in both hemispheres.

Source: Tea mosquito bug affecting production: UPASI

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