Arthropod pests of Moringa oleifera: Emerging threats and management strategies - Duvaraga Devi M; Muthuswami M; Suganthi A; Indu Rani C; Manikanda Boopathi N (Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2024)
Moringa, often hailed as the "miracle tree," is experiencing a surge in global demand due to its outstanding nutritional content and numerous health benefits. The rising trend towards natural and sustainable products has significantly enhanced its market attractiveness, establishing moringa as a highly lucrative crop for both farmers and businesses. Its hardy nature and ability to thrive in diverse climates and soil conditions make moringa an ideal crop for sustainable cultivation, however, its production is threatened by several insect species across various countries. This includes budworm (Noorda moringa) and podfly (Gitona distigma), which affect economically important parts like buds and pods; leaf-eating caterpillar (Noorda blitealis); hairy caterpillar (Eupterote mollifera); and ash weevil (Myllocerus sp.), which cause extensive defoliation. Additionally, several invasive pests such as the tea mosquito bug (Helopeltis antonii) and the rugose spiralling whitefly (Aleurodicus rugioperculatus) have also been reported to attack moringa. Along with these, bark borers, aphids, mite complex and scales were also recorded. These pests can cause substantial yield losses which further complicate management practices. Inadequate documentation of moringa insect pests poses a significant challenge in studying their biology, ecology and management. This review provides insight into the potential insect pest communities affecting moringa, examines current control options, and identifies knowledge gaps. These gaps include insufficient understanding of the biology and ecology of important insect pests, their population dynamics, insecticides used for their management and the need for fully compatible Integrated pest management packages for moringa.
Keywords: journal article; Moringa; Insect Pests; IPM; Natural enemies; Insecticides