Sudarshan Chakraborti

Advances in Cashew Entomology: Cashew Insect Pests and Their Management Sudarshan Chakraborti

This volume has detailed coverage of the important insect pests of cashew. The mirid bug, Helopeltis sp., is a well-established key pest irrespective of the zoo-geographical situations and is also a serious future threat for the non-occurring zones. Other important foliage pests like webbers, shoot tip caterpillars, thrips, leaf miners and apple and nut borers have also been adequately covered. Stem and root borers form a very serious pest-complex and hence, extensive information on this group have been synthesized. Natural enemies play an important role in a rational pest management strategy; those of cashew ecosystem have been covered in great detail. Pollinators play a defining role in cashew production systems but are adversely affected by synthetic inorganic pesticides. An entire sub-section has been devoted to this crucial biotic component. Insect infestation of stored raw nuts lead to both qualitative and quantitative degradation, resulting in poor kernel recovery and special attention has been given to this aspect. The book is expected to be equally acceptable and helpful to the cashew researchers, cashew entomologists and the students of the entomological science.