Sugarcane wooly aphid, Ceratovacuna lanigera is effectively controlled in South India by its predator:

Correct option is A

The sugarcane woolly aphid (Ceratovacuna lanigera) is a serious pest of sugarcane in India, particularly in Southern states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.
It sucks sap from the leaves and secretes honeydew, which encourages sooty mold formation and reduces photosynthetic efficiency.
The most effective biological control agent against this pest in South India is (a) Dipha aphidivora , a predatory lepidopteran insect belonging to the family Pyralidae. Both larvae and adults of Dipha aphidivora feed voraciously on all life stages of woolly aphids, making it highly effective in reducing aphid populations naturally.
Explanation of Other Options:
· (b) Adonia variegata: A type of ladybird beetle, but not commonly used against woolly aphids in sugarcane.
· (c) Cryptolaemus montrouzieri: Known as the mealybug destroyer, this beetle targets mealybugs, not woolly aphids.
· (d) Coccinella septempunctata: The seven-spotted ladybird beetle, effective against aphids in general, but less specific and not the primary predator for Ceratovacuna lanigera in South India.
✅ Correct Answer: (a) Dipha aphidivora