Pyrilla:

Causal Organism: Pyrilla purpusilla Walker 

• Pyrilla is the most destructive foliage-sucking pest of sugarcane.
• Heavy rainfall followed by 75-80% humidity, intermittent drought periods, high temperature (26-30⁰c) and wind movement favours rapid build-up of the pest.
• Cane yield loss is about 28% while 1.6% unit loss in sugar content.

Symptoms:  

• Adults and the nymps suck leaf sap from the under surface of the lower leaves.
• When the infestation is heavy, leaves turn yellowish white and wither away.
• Due to continuous desapping by large number of hoppers top leaves in the affected canes dry up and lateral buds germinate. The hoppers exude a sweet sticky fluid known as honeydew, which promotes quick and luxuriant growth of the fungus, capanodium species and as a result the leaves are completely covered by the sooty mould.

          

                                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                     Fig: Pyrilla