Common Pests and Diseases of Mango Tree

Mango trees are threatened by a variety of pests and diseases that can impact yield and quality if left unmanaged.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the most common issues impacting mango production worldwide and holistic strategies for keeping your trees healthy.

Overview of Mango Tree Pests

Mango trees face attacks from a variety of pests at different stages of growth. These include insects, mites, birds, bats, and small mammals that feed on the tree’s tissues or developing fruits. Let’s explore the main types that afflict mango trees:

Common Insect Pests of Mango Trees

Insects are among the most widespread and damaging pests impacting mango production worldwide. The following sections will examine three of the most economically significant insect pests in depth to help with identification and management:

1} Mango Fruit Fly

The mango fruit fly, commonly known as the Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis), is arguably the most destructive pest of mango globally. This fly lays its eggs under the skin of developing mangoes, causing rotting that makes the fruit inedible.

Adult flies are about 6 mm long with colorful black and white wings. Females use their saw-like ovipositor to cut slits in the skin of fruit to lay 1–3 eggs. These hatch within 4–9 days into white, legless larvae that tunnel through the flesh as they eat and grow. The larvae drop to the ground to pupate when fully grown, then emerge as new adults 10–14 days later.

Farmers know an infestation is present when fruits sport puncture wounds with clear fluid or brown spots emerging. Some fruits may split open, revealing mushy interiors with white larvae. This damage makes mangoes unmarketable and causes significant losses.

To control fruit flies, consider these approaches:

• Apply protein baits containing poisoning agents like malathion to trap and kill adults. Place baits every 20 feet in the trees.
• Cover fruits with bags made of Fine Mesh Screen to physically block flies from laying eggs in developing mangoes.
• Practice good sanitation by removing and destroying fallen, infested fruits from trees and the ground. This eliminates breeding sources.
• Use organically approved insecticides containing neem, pyrethrin, or spinosad as needed, starting at flowering through early fruit set. Proper timing is key to effectiveness.
• Establish buffer zones and import restrictions in your area to reduce the chances of new infestations spreading from outside orchards.

2} Scales

Several species of armored or soft scales pose threats to mango trees. The most widespread is the red-wax scale (Ceroplastes rubens), so-called for its ruby-colored waxy covering. Females can reach 2-3mm in size.

Scale insects attach firmly to stems and the undersides of leaves, using their piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on sap. Their feeding damage weakens trees over time. A heavy infestation leads to leaf drop, dieback of small branches, and even tree mortality in severe cases.

Scale infestations are identified by the small, raised bumps they cause on plant tissues. Closer inspection reveals the waxy coverings, underneath which the soft bodies hide. Some trees may appear dusted with a grayish, sooty mold growing on the honeydew scales.

To manage scales:

• Prune out heavily infested branches in the dormant season. Destroy prunings to remove scales.
• Spray horticultural oil during the dormant period when scales are vulnerable. The oil suffocates the soft bodies.
• Release predatory beetles, like Chilocorus species, that specifically feed on scales. These provide long-term biological control.
• As a last resort, use contact insecticides containing pyrethroids only as needed, targeting crawler stages in spring and summer.

3} Mealybugs

Mealybugs are soft-bodied, globally distributed insects that pierce plant tissues with their needle-like mouthparts to feed on sap. The most common species attacking mango is the citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri), identifiable by its fluffy white waxy coating.

Females lay hundreds of tiny pink eggs in a wool-like material. Upon hatching, the mobile crawlers spread quickly across trees, seeking feeding sites. Heavily infested areas show sooty molds growing on the honeydew secretions and leaf yellowing or dropping as the tree is weakened.

To manage mealybugs:

• Inspect regularly for signs of wax filaments or egg masses on bark and leaf undersides. Catching them early is key.
• Spray off heavy infestations from branches with a strong water stream.
• Apply horticultural oil during dormancy or light dormant oil sprays throughout the year to smother overwintering stages.
• Release predatory ladybugs and lacewings that specifically feed on mealybugs. These establish long-term control when conditions support them.
• Use contact pesticides sparingly and only as needed to supplement natural enemies. Target crawlers in the spring or summer.

Common Mite Pests of Mango Trees

Just one type of mite commonly plagues mangoes, but it can be seriously destructive without management.

Spider Mites

Spider mites are tiny arachnids, usually less than 1mm long, that feed on plant juices via piercing-sucking mouthparts. The two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) is the major pest species on mango trees.

Females lay clusters of round eggs on the undersides of leaves. In warm, dry conditions, populations can explode exponentially within a few weeks. Webbing visible to the naked eye is a telltale sign of an infestation.

Heavily stippled leaves turn yellow or brown and may drop prematurely. Severe mite feeding damage stunts tree growth and even leads to dieback during main flushes.

To manage spider mites:

• Monitor leaf undersides regularly for new webbing or tiny motile forms in the summer.
• Prune out severely impacted branches and destroy pruning to remove colonies.
• Maintain orchard sanitation and avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizers, which favor mite outbreaks.
• Release predatory mites like Phytoseiulus persimilis as a biological control.
• Only use miticides as a last resort, targeting early infestations before webbing occurs. Rotate modes of action to prevent resistance.

Other Common Mango Tree Pests

In addition to insects and mites, mango crops face pressure from vertebrate pests in some regions.

Birds

Fruit-eating birds like mynahs, orioles, and parakeets cause damage by pecking into developing and ripening mangoes. Even a single small peck opening can provide an entry point for rot-causing fungi or fruit fly larvae.

Play recordings of distress calls from other birds or raptors to scare birds from the area. Netting over trees prevents physical access. As a last resort, non-lethal scarecrows or traps may help in small orchards.

Bats and Rodents

Bats, rats, mice, and squirrels sometimes feed on young mango leaves, flowers, or fruits in orchards near their habitat.

Use physical barriers like wire mesh or sheet metal around tree trunks to prevent climbing access. Remove alternative food sources and resting places from the orchard vicinity.

Rodenticides should only be considered a last line of defense and applied with extreme care to prevent harming other wildlife.

With preventative measures and non-chemical controls prioritized, many vertebrate pests can learn to avoid mango crops without resorting to poisons that risk environmental impacts.

Overview of Mango Tree Diseases

Fungal and bacterial pathogens pose threats to mango production globally. Understanding common diseases is important for sustainably managing risks. The following sections profile four widespread issues in depth.

1} Anthracnose

Anthracnose, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, is among the most yield-limiting diseases of mangoes. Spores are spread by rain, splash, or wind.

Symptoms start as small, reddish-brown leaf spots. Branch dieback and cankers form, girdling stems over time. Fruits develop ripe rot lesions with salmon-colored spore masses. Untreated, trees become progressively defoliated and weakened.

Integrated approaches are needed for long-term control.

• Prune out infected wood during dormancy and destroy prunings.
• Apply compost teas containing beneficial microbes, which can suppress fungal populations.
• Spray copper fungicides only if needed, targeting early infections before they multiply. Rotate classes to delay resistance.
• Maintain overall tree vigor with balanced fertilization and irrigation to reduce susceptibility.

With proactive management emphasizing sanitation and eco-friendly strategies, anthracnose need not devastate mango crops. Consistent scouting allows the catchment and treatment of early infections.

2} Powdery Mildew

Caused by the fungus Oidium mangiferae, powdery mildew appears as a white, talcum powder-like growth on young leaves, fruits, and twigs. Severely infected parts may yellow, blacken, and die prematurely. Outbreaks typically occur during extended periods of mild, humid, and relatively dry weather.

Some key integrated control strategies include:

• Prune out severely infected sections to promote air flow through the canopy.
• Maintain overall tree health with balanced nutrition to strengthen natural defenses.
• Spray neem, kaolin clay, or potassium bicarbonate formulations starting at the first disease signs. These physical agents smother spores.
• Release biocontrol agents like the Ampelomyces quisqualis fungus that parasitizes the powdery mildew.
• As a last line, use sulfur or triazole fungicides sparingly in high-risk periods. Rotate classes.

With diligent monitoring, pruning diseased growth, and prioritizing resistant varieties adapted to the local climate, powdery mildew can typically be manageable in mango orchards.

3} Scab

Scab, caused by the fungus Elsinoe mangiferae, produces olive-green raised lesions on leaves, twigs, and fruits of susceptible varieties. Heavily scabbed leaves prematurely defoliate, weakening trees. Fruit infections cause ugly blemishes, lowering marketability.

Some management approaches include:

• Prune out dead or diseased branches during the dormant season.
• Rotate tree varieties and avoid overcrowding to improve air circulation.
• Apply compost teas containing antagonistic microbes, like Trichoderma, to outcompete the pathogen.
• Control weeds around trees, which can harbor the fungus between crops.
• Only use sulfur or copper fungicide preventatively if needed, focusing on protectant rather than curative applications.
• Collect fallen diseased leaves to destroy any inoculum source.

With integrated practices emphasizing resistance, sanitation, and optimizing orchard conditions, scabs need not cause significant losses in mango production. Monitoring and intervention at early infection stages help achieve control.

4}Sooty Mold

Sooty mold is a complex of fungi (principally Capnodium and Fumago species) that grow on the sweet honeydew secretions of various sucking insects infesting plants. On mango trees, common honeydew producers include scales, mealybugs, aphids, and whiteflies.

Sooty mold itself does not directly damage crops. However, the fungal films significantly reduce photosynthesis by blocking sunlight from reaching the leaves. Heavy infestations can weaken trees over time.

Some management strategies include:

• Control the primary honeydew-producing insects through the integrated techniques discussed earlier.
• Spray off mold mats from leaves with a strong water stream only when infestations are moderate.
• Apply Neem or horticultural oil sprays, which smother fungal spores and discourage further growth.
• Introduce lacewings and ladybugs as biological controls for soft-bodied insects.
• Maintain tree health and vigor to reduce susceptibility through balanced fertilization and irrigation.

With a systems approach targeting the root insect causes combined with occasional mold removal, sooty mold need not have serious long-term impacts on mango production.

5} Bacterial Black Spot

Bacterial black spot, caused by the bacteria Xanthomonas campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae, is an economically important disease in some mango-growing regions. It mainly infects North Indian varieties through wounds and natural openings.

Symptoms appear as sharp-edged, gray-black spots on leaves and tender shoots. Severe defoliation can occur if left untreated. Fruits develop sunken lesions and a fetid odor as spots enlarge post-harvest.

Management focuses on prevention and exclusion.

• Use disease-free propagation material from screened sources.
• Apply compost teas containing antagonistic microbes to strengthen plant defenses.
• Control weeds that can harbor and spread bacteria between crops.
• Prune and destroy infected branches during dormancy to remove the inoculum.
• Copper sprays may be needed if environmental conditions strongly favor outbreaks. Rotate with antibiotics as a last resort.
• Establish buffer zones around orchards and limit equipment and tool sharing to prevent introductions.

Soilborne Diseases

Several important soilborne pathogens can impact mangoes. Proper identification and integrated control approaches are warranted.

1} Fusarium Wilt

Caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. mangiferae, this disease leads to foliar chlorosis, defoliation, and eventual tree death. The pathogen resides quiescently in the soil and roots.

Management relies on resistant varieties, crop rotation, and improving general soil conditions for better plant health.

• Incorporate organic matter to promote antagonistic microbiota.
• Control weeds serving as alternate hosts.
• Apply compost teas containing Trichoderma fungi, which counter Fusarium.
• Grafting susceptible cultivars onto disease-free rootstocks also provides control.

2} Phytophthora Root Rot

The soilborne oomycete Phytophthora palmivora attacks mango roots, leading to wilting and death. It thrives in waterlogged, poorly drained soils.

Plant on raised beds or ridges to enhance drainage. Apply phosphite-based products as a foliar spray, which triggers plant defense pathways against oomycetes. Maintain a healthy soil structure with organic amendments. Consider tolerant rootstocks where applicable.

With proactive identification and modification of soil factors favoring root diseases, losses to these key pathogens can typically be sustainably managed in mango orchards through non-chemical controls.

3} Verticillium wilt

Another destructive soilborne disease is Verticillium wilt, caused by the fungus Verticillium dahliae. It infects over 200 host plant species, including mangoes.

Symptoms: Leaves initially show interveinal chlorosis and scorching along the margins. Defoliation progresses from the bottom of the tree upward. Fruit production drops off, and trees eventually die within 1–3 years if left untreated.

Disease cycle: The fungus survives long-term in soil particles and plant debris as microsclerotia. These germinate to infect roots when conditions are suitable. The pathogen then spreads systemically through the xylem vessels.

You might like to know about grafting. So there is the next article on how and when to graft mango trees; you can check it out and learn about it.

Mango Tree Nutrient Deficiencies and Excesses

A balanced fertility program supports mango trees in achieving their full productive and quality potential while defending against pest and disease pressures. This section reviews common nutritional disorders.

Nitrogen (N) Deficiency

• The leaves are pale green or yellowish between veins
• Growth stunted
• Low yield

Prevent this by applying balanced organic or slow-release synthetic fertilizers throughout the growing season. Avoid excessive pruning, which removes stored N.

Phosphorus (P) Deficiency

• Leaves are dark green with purple or red veins or petals.
• Poor flowering or fruit set

Add phosphate fertilizer during active growth. Maintain adequate soil P levels through compost additions.

Potassium (K) Deficiency

• Leaf scorching/tip burn
• Increased susceptibility to disease

Supplement with potassium fertilizers or potassium-rich amendments like greensand annually.

Calcium (Ca) Deficiency

• Blossom end rot of fruit
• Dieback of shoot tips

Lime acidic soils to raise pH if needed. Foliar sprays with Ca formulations help when deficiency is mild.

Boron (B) Deficiency

• Cracked, woody stalks and faulty fruit development

Apply granular or liquid B fertilizers according to soil test results.

Excesses of N, P, or K can also harm trees or contaminate runoff. Maintain balanced soil nutrition through testing and integrated practices. Monitor deficiencies through foliage analysis for early intervention.

Integrated Pest Management in Mango Orchards

A truly sustainable approach to production involves preventing pest problems before they occur through balanced Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This section provides some key IPM strategies for mango orchards:

Crop Rotation/Variety Mixing

Planting a diversity of varieties with staggered harvest times breaks pest cycles. Rotate non-hosts every 2-3 years to disrupt insects and diseases.

Monitoring

Regularly scout for signs of key pests and identify issues early. Record development so management tactics can be timed appropriately.

Cultural Controls

Prune diseased wood and maintain open canopies. Weed and irrigate properly. Apply compost for healthy soil and balanced nutrition.

Biological Controls

Augment natural enemies like predatory mites and bugs through habitat manipulation or conservation biology.

Plant Resistance

Choose pest and disease-tolerant cultivars adapted to the local environment whenever available. Grafting also introduces rootstock resistance traits.

Physical Barriers

Use protective netting for fruit fly and bird exclusion. Ensure physical access is limited through trunk bands, landscape barriers, etc.

Natural Products

Favor narrowly targeted organic sprays like Neem, canola, or horticultural oils that smother or deter pests.

Chemicals

Insecticides and fungicides are a last resort, applied judiciously to avoid resistance after consulting specialists. Rotate modes of action.

Successful long-term IPM integrates cultural, biological, and resistance strategies to holistically manage pests sustainably without over-reliance on chemicals alone. Proper implementation supports environmentally and economically sound production.

FAQs

Conclusion

We’ve covered the most important pests, like mealybugs and mango fruit fly, that plague mango crops worldwide.

Understanding lifecycles and identifying signs of infestation early is key. An IPM approach applying natural preventions alongside targeted applications yields the healthiest, most productive trees with the least risk.

With diligent care and monitoring, you too can grow magnificent mangoes free of damaging diseases and pests.