ROOT GRUB

Root grub is the major cause of destruction of arecanut plantation in Malanad region.Identifying the root grub problem is little difficult.Decreasing number and size of the flower,shortened leaves,yellowing of the leaves in some periods,decreasing size of the stem at the top which ultimately lets the plant to die were the common symptoms of the root grub.If we searched the basin of the plant by digging we can find finger sized,whitish,C-shaped,grubs with three pair of legs in the soil. There are several forms of root grubs in the arecanut plantations in the Malanad region.All grubs are C-shaped.But amongst them only one grub damages the arecanut plant.Apart from arecanut these grubs also damages sugar cane,coconut,plants too. There are three types of grubs in the Malanad region which damages the arecanut plant.Leacophelis lepidophora,Leacophelis coniophora,and Leacophelis burmistry [spelling may not be correct]were the three type of grubs.Coniophora canbe found in the coastal region,lepidophora in other places.Although it is said that Burmistry is very rare in the Malanad region,it is the same grub which is in my plot.Not only in my plot but also in my whole village,nearby villages too,and may be in the whole Taluk too.In fact whoever brought grubs to the seminar brought Burmistry grubs.Only one sample had Lepidophora grub.That grub was brought from Mairaje Ashok Bhats farm which is in Markanja village.