Dubas Bug
Class: Insects
Common Name
Dubas Bug
Scientific name
Ommatissus lybicus
Potential Hosts
Date palms
Who am I?
The dubas bug is a sap sucking insect and pest of date palms. Nymphs and adults suck sap from fronds, leaves, and fruit clusters. In recent years, it has become an important pest of date palm plantation. A dubas bug presence results in the formation of honeydew as a byproduct of the sap being consumed, which then gives rise to the formation of sooty mold and a reduction in photosynthesis.
A heavy infestation can reduce crop yields by several percentages. Infested fruits are smaller and exhibit delayed ripening and low sugar content.
Control measures
Cultural
Monitoring: Closely inspect your fields (at least once a week) and look for the presence of honeydew and dubas bugs on fruits and foliage.
Conventional (chemical)
The following in an insecticide used in one or more parts of the world: Imidachloprid (10 cc - 350 gr\litre) per tree applied manually or via irrigation system.
Organic
Frequent spraying applications with mineral oil.
Caution and careful notice should be taken when using any plant protection products (insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides). It is the grower’s sole responsibility to keep track of the legal uses and permissions with respect to the laws in their country and destination markets. Always read the instructions written on labels, and in a case of contradiction, work in accordance to the product label. Keep in mind that information written on the label usually applies to local markets. Pest control products intended for organic farming are generally considered to be less effective in comparison to conventional products. When dealing with organic, biologic, and to some extent a small number of conventional chemical products, a complete eradication of a pest or disease will often require several iterations of a specific treatment or combination of treatments.