How To Protect Guava Trees From Insects

In this guide, you are going to learn how to protect your guava trees from insects.

Short answer: to protect your guava trees from insects, prune guava tree branches that are touching walls, buildings, and ground timely. This can help prevent aphids, ants, and other insects pests from touching or getting access to your guava. If that doesn’t work, use pesticides.

Read on for a detailed information about protecting guava from insects pests.

Overview

The guava tree is one of the many trees with hardwood which may be hard for insects to damage. However, despite the guava plant possessed hardwood stems, trunks, and branches, the plant has its own share of pests.

The common pests of guava include:

• Nematodes
• Stem borer of guava
• Eating caterpillars
• Mealybugs
• Thrips
• Weevils
• Green shield scale
• Guava whiteflies and others

You can find out more information about guava pests and their management from here and here.

How to Protect Guava Tree from Insects

There are several ways in which you can deter or prevent your guava plants from damage by insects.

And they include:

• Use of biological control agents
• Chemical control method
• Planting of resistant varieties
• Use of agricultural practices

Use of Biological Control Agents

Insect pests like stem borer of guava can be controlled biologically by introducing their natural enemies such as green meadow grasshopper and spiders.

These insects can help protect your guava from attack by their prey by reducing the population of guava stem borer.

Chemical Control Method

This method of protecting guava from insects involves the use of chemicals to destroy or reduce the population of insect pests.

To protect your guava from insects using the chemical control method, spray a pesticide containing an active ingredient Fenthionin to the infested guava trees.

You can alternatively apply a pesticide, which contains the active ingredient Dimethoate. To prepare the insecticides, follow the instructions given on the product to spray your guava with the pesticide.

Prepare 5-10 liters of the pesticide when applying the pesticide on guava fruits and leaves.

Spray your guava plantation weekly and stop when you see that the pests are under control.

Planting of Resistant Guava Varieties

When planting your guava, always buy and plant guava varieties that are resistant to diseases and pests. This way, your guava can be resistant to attack by pathogens and insect pests.

Learn more about the different guava varieties

Implementing Good Agricultural Practices

Another easy and effective way to deter insects and keep their population under control is the use of good agricultural practices.

Make sure you timely prune your guava trees to reduce dense canopy. This can help allow good passage of air in and out of your guava plantation.

Weeding guava plantation can also help keep the population of insects under management.

Irrigate and fertilize your guava to restore the plant vigor. This can help your guava withstand the effects of pests even when the guava is infested by pests. You can use nitrogen-based fertilizer to feed your guava.

Practice Crop Rotation. Plant other host plants around the area of guava trees plantation. This can help reduce the population of insects on your guava trees to the other host plants.

Other Management Practices and Takeaway

• Always allow wider space between two guava plants when you are planting guava
• Collect and burn infested stems, fruits, and leaves
• Cut guava branches that rest on or touching the wall, this will help remove the bridge that other insects such as ants will use and damage your guava

References

Sathe, Tukaram. (2015). STORAGE INSECT PESTS OF GUAVA PSIDIUM GUAJAVA LINN. International Journal of Current Research. 7. 21015-21018

Sarwar, Muhammad. (2006). Occurrence of Insect Pests on Guava (Psidium guajava) Tree. 38.