Further Spread of Leucaena Psyllid, Heteropsylla cubana in India

The introduction of Leucaena psyllid Heteropsylla cubana was detected at Kattupakkam, Tamil Nadu in February, 1988. A Survey of the pest since February, 1988 showed that the pest has spread to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. It was doing considerable damage to Leucaena from wherever it was reported. The action plan evolved by various agencies lays stress on breeding psyllid resistant species/ clones of Leucaena and biological control. The predators Curinus coeruleus and Olla abdominalis which have been released in Pan-Pacific region to control the Psyllid may not be desirable in the Indian context as they may readily predate upon lac insects. Before decision to introduce any Biological control agent is taken, host specificity of the agent should be confirmed. '