Heteropsylla Cubana Crawford, a New Psyllid Pest of Leucaena in India

Leucaena psyllid, Heteropsylla cubana was detected in February, 1988 by an entomologist, of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Chingalpettu District. A survey undertaken soon after, recorded the psyllid from Pudukottai, Trichi and Coimbatore districts also. Leucaena cultivation is threatened. The psyllid is native of Caribbean region. In a short span of 2 years since 1984 it had spread all over the Pacific basin and crossed over to Indian Ocean basin, reaching Sri Lanka in 1986. Biological-cum-genetic control measures should be launched by releasing in India promising parasites, predators and pathogens from the native home of the pest and raising psyllid resistant varieties of L. leucocephala or species of Leucaena. An all India project for Leucaena psyllid control should be prepared with the participation of Wasteland Development Board and various other research organisations or India should participate in the Regional Plan for Psyllid Control prepared by FRED Project.