Experts devise nets to check fly menace

40 per cent of mangoes in Kolar district rot due to this problem

The mango growers of Kolar district are worried over the constant fly problem affecting the mango fruits. According to a recent method developed by the chief scientists of the Indian Horticultural Research Institute, the fly menace can be controlled to a large extent.

The mangoes can be safeguarded from the pest-attacks. Thanks to the efforts of Dr Abraham Varghese and Dr D H Shivanand, they have now devised a new method to contain the fly menace to a large extent.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Wednesday, the two scientists explained in detail, along with demonstration, on how the fly menace can be contained. They said, just around 45 to 60 days before the mangoes ripen, the flies begin drill into the mangoes and lay eggs in the mango pulp. And the flies born out of these eggs eat into the pulp, which leads to the rotting of the mangoes. The rotten mangoes then fall on the ground, leading to an increase in the fly population.

Fruits should be buried

The farmers are advised to bury such rotten fruits about two feet deep into the soil, the scientists informed.

The traps or the nets to be used to catch flies should be laid in the mango groves. About an acre of land requires about six to eight nets. Around 15 days after the nets are spread, the farmers should apply five to six drops of myalatheon or daichloravas on the branches and twigs of the mango trees.

The male flies get attracted to the branches and get caught in the nets and die. Without the help of male flies, the female flies are unable to lay eggs. Hence, the laying of the eggs is automatically stopped, the experts explained.

After a period of four weeks, the application of six drops of myalatheon or daichloravas on the branches and twigs of the trees should be continued. This process should be repeated till all the mangoes are harvested. The nets should be cleared of the flies regularly.

The experts informed that the cost of a net was Rs 25, while the chemicals should be purchased by the farmers. This method was implemented on a pilot basis in Srinivaspur and the process had turned out to be successful. The pilot study was conducted in the months of April-December, last year. In order to increase the popularity of the nets, authorised agents had been appointed to sell them, they informed.

Lack of quality

The fly-menace was responsible for the rotting of about 40 per cent of the mangoes in the district. Due to lack of quality, the mangoes lost their credibility in the international market also. They were also not fit for the local markets and could not be processed too, they said.

100 grams of jaggery should be mixed in one litre of water and two mili metres of myalatheor or imidake blufrid should be added and the mixture should be applied on the branches and stems about three to four times.

The flies can be brought under control after applying once in a week. Even the stem borers which attack the mango trees can be eliminated with the help of the new medicine discovered by the Institute, the two informed.

When the mangoes are of lemon size, the borers attack the mangoes and lay eggs on them. These eggs are fertilised into small borers which eat into the fruits. The fruits begin rotting and they fall down. The borers come out of the fruits, build their homes on the soil and again attack the fruits by next year.

Stem borer menace

The grown-up stem borers reside among the branches and twigs. The farmers should clean trees with the help of brooms now and then. Myalatheon or imidake blufrid should be sprayed before the flowering takes place. Acifate pesticide should be sprayed when the mangoes turn into lemon size.

If the mangoes are meant for export, then diacomythrin should be sprayed, he said and added, for more details and information, the farmers can contact on telephone numbers:  080 - 2846 6420, 21, 22, 23 or on extension numbers: 305, 422 or 230.