Bengaluru, March 6 – The Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) has introduced a pioneering solution, the Arka Mealy Melt, employing cutting-edge technology to dissolve the protective wax coating of mealybugs, a common pest affecting a wide range of plants in agriculture, horticulture, and residential gardens. This innovation targets the wax layer that shields mealybugs from insecticides, facilitating more effective pest control.
Mealybugs are a notorious problem in various cultivation settings due to their protective mealy wax covering, which traditional pest management strategies struggle to penetrate. These strategies typically involve the use of chemical pesticides and botanical formulations, which must be applied repeatedly. However, these methods often fall short due to the protective wax barrier.
The Arka Mealy Melt features a blend of organic solvents specifically designed to remove this protective coating, rendering the pests vulnerable to insecticidal treatments. Extensive laboratory and field tests have demonstrated the product’s efficacy in dissolving the wax, leading to the pests’ dehydration and death. This breakthrough positions the Arka Mealy Melt as a vital tool in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and mealybug eradication efforts, marking it as the first product of its kind in the market.
Dr. Jayanthimala, a scientist at IIHR, highlighted the absence of any competing products that focus on eliminating the wax barrier of mealybugs, underscoring the unique potential of their technology in IPM and pest control initiatives.
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