Eco-Friendly Strategies and Population Dynamics for Managing Uzi Fly (Exorista bombycis Louis) Infestations Under Climate Variability in Mulberry Sericulture
Anna Kaushik *
Department of Sericulture, FC&RI, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, India.
Navneet Mondal
Department of Entomology, Post Graduate College of Agriculture, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur, 848125, India.
Ishani Borthakur
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 785013, India.
S. A. Brindha Bharathi
Department of Sericulture, FC&RI, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, India.
Sukanya Saikia
Department of Sericulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 785013, India.
Chinthiya Gogoi
Department of Sericulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, 785013, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Mulberry sericulture serves as a vital economic backbone for rural communities across Northeast India, yet it faces significant challenges from Uzi fly (Exorista bombycis Louis) infestations, which cause substantial economic losses. Climate variability, including shifts in temperature, humidity, and rainfall, directly influences Uzi fly population dynamics and silkworm rearing cycles, exacerbating pest outbreaks in the region. This review examines the host-parasite interactions of Exorista bombycis with silkworms, climatic patterns relevant to pest proliferation, and the resulting implications for sericulture in Northeast India. Eco-friendly management strategies, including cultural, mechanical, biological, botanical and quarantine methods within integrated pest management (IPM) frameworks, are discussed as sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides. Emphasis is placed on climate-informed IPM approaches that utilize weather forecasting and pest surveillance for targeted interventions, ensuring effective pest suppression while preserving silkworm health. Future perspectives highlight the need for predictive models, breeding climate-resilient silkworm strains and advancing biopesticide-based control methods to address emerging climate challenges. Strengthening policy support and farmer training in climate-smart pest management will be essential for ensuring sustainable sericulture in Northeast India under climate variability. This review aims to guide researchers and practitioners toward resilient pest management in the mulberry sericulture sector.
Keywords: Uzi fly, climate variability, mulberry sericulture, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), eco-friendly pest control, Northeast India