Sustainable integrated non-disruptive management of mango mealybug (Drosicha mangiferae) using physical barriers and holistic modules

Abstract The mango mealybug (Drosicha mangiferae Green) is a destructive pest of mango (Mangifera indica) and Alstonia scholaris, reducing productivity through sap feeding and honeydew-induced sooty mould. Chemical control is often unreliable because of the insect’s waxy covering and concealed behaviour, necessitating sustainable alternatives. Field studies conducted during 2019–2020 in the outer plains of Jammu evaluated non-disruptive management modules based on physical barriers and a holistic approach under orchard and urban conditions. Glue traps and bristle rings effectively prevented crawler ascent, achieving up to 98.10% and 92.47% reduction, respectively. The holistic module (raking + lemongrass + mud plastering + glue traps) provided the highest suppression on mango (96.71–99.04%) and A. scholaris (96.92–98.20%), followed by the physical barrier module (≈ 79–89%). Improved pest suppression resulted in higher mango yield (49.25 ± 1.96 kg tree⁻¹) and increased seed weight (23.05%). Public perception surveys around treated urban trees showed a significant decline in nuisance levels and improved tolerance. Economic analysis identified the physical barrier (₹42.5 tree⁻¹) and holistic module (₹65.3 tree⁻¹) as the most cost-effective options. The study demonstrates that simple glue-trap-based non-disruptive modules provide an effective, economical, and socially acceptable alternative for sustainable management of D. mangiferae in both agricultural and urban ecosystems.