Sirsi: Arecanut growers, who were expecting good yield this time, are now worried as tender arecanuts are falling due to insect attack.

This is a crucial stage in the growth of arecanut, but insect attack is severe in Sirsi, Siddapur and Yellapur taluks. Pre-monsoon showers since April have helped the insects to grow.

“Halyomarpha marmoria inspect is of 1.25 cm size, and they suck the juice from tender arecanut. Therefore, arecanuts fall gradually, but some farmers think that it is due to the variation in the weather during the beginning of the monsoon. Fallen arecanuts will have minute marks of insect attack,” says Horti Clinic subject expert V M Hegde.

One litre of water mixed with 2 ml dimethoate or 0.5 ml imidacloprid or 1.5 ml monocrotophos should be sprayed to affected trees and arecanut bunches of surrounding trees, in early morning or evening hours, he suggested.

V S Hegde, a farmer at Shiraguni village, lamented that three to four quintals of arecanut has fallen per acre in some areas, and the insect attack is more severe in new areca gardens.

We did not have good yield in last couple of years, and insect attack is damaging the hope for good yield at least this year, he added.