Neem in India
Helopeltis antonii Signoret
The capsid bug feeds on the sap of foliage and soft tissues of a large nunber of commercially
important trees especially cashewnut It has been reported to be responsible for drying up of the distal
shoots and foliage of neem trees -in South India. Similar damage by the pest has also been reported
from Gujarat and Rajasthan. Adults and nymphs of the bug puncture the tender shoots and leaves
and inject toxic saliva into the host trees. The injury causes exudation of various gummy substances,
which harden on exposure to air. The surrounding tissues become necrotised, forming brown to black
patches. In severely infested plants, the entire t1m~h dries up and the whole tree presents a
scortched appearance. The bugs lay eggs in groups of 2-3, deep inside the tender shoots, leaf stalks
and midrib or even in fruits. Each female lays about 200 eggs which hatch in 7-10 days. The
orange-coloured nymphs feed at night by puncturing the soft plant tissues. The life cycle is completed
in 16-35 days under different locations.
The capsid bug feeds on the sap of foliage and soft tissues of a large nunber of commercially
important trees especially cashewnut It has been reported to be responsible for drying up of the distal
shoots and foliage of neem trees -in South India. Similar damage by the pest has also been reported
from Gujarat and Rajasthan. Adults and nymphs of the bug puncture the tender shoots and leaves
and inject toxic saliva into the host trees. The injury causes exudation of various gummy substances,
which harden on exposure to air. The surrounding tissues become necrotised, forming brown to black
patches. In severely infested plants, the entire t1m~h dries up and the whole tree presents a
scortched appearance. The bugs lay eggs in groups of 2-3, deep inside the tender shoots, leaf stalks
and midrib or even in fruits. Each female lays about 200 eggs which hatch in 7-10 days. The
orange-coloured nymphs feed at night by puncturing the soft plant tissues. The life cycle is completed
in 16-35 days under different locations.
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