Insect Pests in the Coast Province of Kenya I-Mango

Abstract

A wide range of insect pests attack mango. But generally speaking the damage they cause. Although sometimes considerable. is not so severe as on the majority of tree crops on the Kenya coast and insecticidal control measures have been rarely employed in the past. However. The recently developed trade in air freighting mangoes to Europe has created a market for a very high grade of fruit unblemished by fungal or insect attack. Insect blemishes are normally caused by scale insects and the internal quality of the fruit is unimpaired. Therefore the need for insecticidal control measures for scale insects on mangoes depends not only upon the severity of infestation. But also upon the type of fruit which one is trying to produce. The local East African market at present does not discriminate between fruit with and without minor blemishes, but the luxury Covent Garden trade very definitely does and if fruit are to be grown for this latter market, spraying may be necessary even for very low scale infestations.