Status of arthropod pests infesting different ornamental plants of Bangladesh

ABSTRACT: The study was conducted at Gazipur, Jessore, Narsingdi, Satkhira and Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh to know the arthropod pests infesting on the ornamental plants viz., rose, China rose, tuberose, gladiolus, thuja, ixora, marigold, chrysanthemum, cosmos and dahlia. A total of 51 insect and 4 mite species were identified as arthropod pests to the selected ornamental plants. The highest percentage of arthropods caused damage (23%) on rose and the lowest damage level (3%) was found on ixora. Abundance of the major and minor pests was 16% and 84%, respectively. The arthropod pests were under 10 taxonomic Orders and the Order Hemiptera showed the highest abundance (31%). Rose plants were attacked by 13 insect pests and single mite species of which thrips, aphid, bud worm and red spider mite were found as major pests. China rose was infested by 12 species of arthropods and all of their status were minor pests. Six species of arthropods caused damage to tuberose, among them aphid and bud borer were found as major pests. Gladiolus and thuja were infested by 5 and 4 species of arthropods and their major pests were thrips and bag worm, respectively. Scale insect and aphid were found as the minor pests of ixora. Five species of arthropods infested on marigold and the occurrence of aphid and mealy bug were major pests. Chrysanthemum and cosmos were infested by 5 and 2 species of arthropods, respectively and which were identified as minor pests. Four species of arthropods attacked dahlia, and mealy bug was found as major pest. 

Keywords: Survey, insects, major pest, minor pest, ornamental plants