<p></p><p>They will destroy bio-pest control agents and enemies of the tea mosquito bug, particularly telenomus, an egg parasitoid, that lays its larvae in the egg of tea mosquito,” said Mr. Kalyanasundaram, who has done extensive study on the insect. Fifteen years ago tea mosquito posed no threat. Experts blame climatic changes for the emergence of the bugTrees, particularly neem, guava, cashew-nut, drumstick and cocoa, are under attack from Heloteltis antonii, an alien species known as tea mosquito, across the State. Thousands of trees have already fallen prey to the bug and there are warnings that the attack will be severe in summer. “The leaves of the neem trees affected by the bug wither away and fruits get a warty appearance. <br></p> <p>Experts blame climatic changes for the emergence of the bug Trees, particularly neem, guava, cashew-nut, drumstick and cocoa, are under attack from Heloteltis antonii, an alien species known as tea mosquito, across the State. Thousands of trees have already fallen prey to the bug and there are warnings that the attack will be severe in summer. “The leaves of the neem trees affected by the bug wither away and fruits get a warty appearance. It substantially reduces their market value as consumers are wary of buying these fruits,” said M. <br></p> <p>Kalyanasundaram, professor and head of the department of entomology, Agriculture College and Research Centre, Madurai. Do not panic: expert Mr. Kalyanasundaram, who visited the fields affected by the insect, advised the farmers not to panic as adult trees would fully recover in the wake of monsoon. But protective measures, such as spraying of thiamethoxam, are essential for plants less than one year old to survive. “But we should avoid widespread spraying of insecticides as they will only aggravate the situation.<br></p><p></p>