Scientific Name --- Chilo partellus Chilo zonellus Common Name Jowar Stem Borer / Spotted stalk borer/ Pink borer It is an example of order Lepidoptera (Moth). C. partellus is one of the economically most damaging pests in Asia and Africa, attacking all parts of the plant except the roots. Present on Jowar, maize, bajra, ragi ( Nachani)etc.
Marks of Identification Adult moth is medium sized yellowish brown insect. It measures 25-30mm with wing span. Straw coloured forewings have a double row of black spots on margins. In male hind wings are smoky and whitish in female.
Caterpillars are dirty white with dark brown head and also dark spots on the body. On mature caterpillars presence of four broad and patchy strips on the body. Egg - Scale-like flat oval eggs in batches on the under surface of leaves near the midribs.
Life cycle is short in summer and long in winter. Life cycle completed in 28-42 days. It is completed in following stages
Eggs Creamy white, oval in shape and lays in clusters arranged in two rows on the underside of leaves in rows along midrib. In cluster about 50 150 eggs present. Hatches within 3-5 days after laying.
2) Larva 6 larval instars are present. Newly hatched larva has black head and prothorax. Body is dirty white in colour with 4 long brown stripes on its back. The first instars larva feeds on central whorl then bores stem for rest of the life. After 14-28 days larva fully grown. The larva remains dormant in winter season.
3) Pupa Pupation occurs in stem. Pupation complete in 6-8 days. It is reddish brown in colour and 6 spines present on tip of abdomen. Then this pupa developed into adult. 4) Adult Adults are active from June to November and about 4 generation in a year.
NATURE OF DAMAGE Caterpillars of newly hatched feeds on the leaves and causing holes on leaf and then attack on all parts. Also larvae enter into stem and feed on the tissues and tunnels are formed. Withering and drying of central shoot - dead heart
Red mining in the midrib Bore holes visible on the stem near the nodes. Tender folded leaves have parallel shot hole.
CONTROL MEASURES A) Mechanical method Infested plants should be removed and burned. Also caterpillar larva should be collected ad destroyed. Adults can be trapped by light or pheromone traps. The sowing and harvesting time should be change. Rotation of crops.
B) Chemical methods Deep ploughing and dusting of 10-15% BHC at 25-40 kg / hec. 0.3% endrin or melathion helps in controlling insects. Also spraying with 350-400 ml of aldrin / dieldrin in 200 lit. of water helps to control the pest. C) Biological methods Trichogramma (wasp), Telenomus is introduced as a egg parasite. Apanteles flavipes and Bracon brevicornis as larval parasites. Also Sexmaculata (Beetle) has recorded as a predating on early stages of the larvae of this pest.
Scientific name Dysdercus koenigii Dysdercus cingulatus Common name Red Cotton Bug / Cotton Stainer It is an example of order Hemiptera. Occur on Cotton, Bendi, Ambadi and other of Family Malvaceae.
Mark of identification Adults are 12-15 mm in length and red in colour except eyes, scutellum, anal, antennae are black in colour. Forewings show black spot. Nymphs and adults are reddish with white bands on the abdomen.
LIFE CYCLE They are active throughout the year. Life cycle completed in following stages 1) Eggs Female bug lays about 100-150 spherical yellowish eggs under the moist soil in clusters. Incubation period is about 7 days.
2) Nymph After incubation period, a active 1 mm long red coloured nymph hatched. Nymph contain central row of black spots on each side. They feed on cotton balls and fast grow in size. They pass into 5 moulds in 42-49 days 3) Adult Adults suck the plant sap from leaves, shoot, and balls. They live about 40-100 days in favourable condition.
NATURE OF DAMAGE Both nymph and adults suck the plant sap from the leaves, shoot and balls. It adversely affects the quality of ginning and oil content of the seeds. If attack is more, balls open and lint is of poor quality. They also introduce bacteria and cause red staining of the lint (fine fibres)
CONTROL MEASURES a) Mechanical method Mass killing of nymph and adults by hand picking and killed in kerosinised water. Plough the field to expose and destroy the eggs. Collect the infested leaves and balls and then destroy. b) Chemical method Dusting the infested crop with 10% BHC dust at 25 kg / hec. Spraying of 1 lit. Endosulfan 35 EC OR 250 ml phosphamidon 100 EC in 100 lit water / hec. Also melathion 0.05 % is effective to control these pests.
c) Biological pest Biological agents like Herpactor costalis, Antilochus coaqueberti are predacious on nymphs and adults.
Scientific name Leucinodes orbonalis Common name Brinjal Fruit Borer It is an example of order Lepidoptera. It is found throughout the tropics in Asia and Africa and is a minor pest in the America.
Marks of identification Moth is about 20 mm across the spread wings. Wings are whitish in colour and provided with small hair on apical and anal margins. Head and thorax blackish brown in colour. A number of black, light brown spots on hind wings. The caterpillar larva is pale white in colour.
LIFE CYCLE Life cycle completed in following stages A) Eggs Female moth lays about 100-150 creamish white eggs on the leaves and flowers of young fruits. Incubation period is about 3-6 days. B) Larva After hatching caterpillar larva start boring near the growing point of tender shoot/ fruits / flower of plant. The caterpillar passes into 5 moulds and fully grown in about 9-28 days. Fully grown caterpillars become whitish with violet spots.
C) Pupa After full growth, comes out from feeding tunnel and pupates on fallen leaves and forming cocoon. Pupation last for about 6-8 days. D) Adult Life span of adult moth is about 2-5 days.
NATURE OF DAMAGE The larvae bore midribs of large leaves of young growing shoots. Fruits show circular holes, which are exit holes of last instars larva for pupation. Withering (loss of moisture)of terminal shoots/dead hearts Bore holes on shoots and fruits plugged with excreta Shedding (dropping)of flower buds Withering and drying of leaves
CONTOL MEASURES 1) Mechanical control Remove the affected terminal shoot showing boreholes. Remove the affected fruits and destroy. Avoid continuous cropping of brinjal crop. In heavy infestation, the whole plant should be uprooted and destroyed.
2) Chemical method Spraying of 0.1% carbaryl, qunolphos and endosulfan at regular intervals of 7-10 days. Chlorpyrifos 20% EC 1.0 ml/ lit. Dimethoate 30% EC 7.0 ml/ 10 lit. Emamectin benzoate 5% SG 4gm / 10 lit. 3) Biological method Larval parasites like Pristomerus cremastus, Bracois chinensis lower down the pest level.
Scientific name Batocera rubus Common name Mango Stem Borer It is a example of order Coleoptera
Marks of identification Adult beetles are measure about 5 cm long and brownish yellow / grey in colour. On thorax orange yellow spots are present and forewings are hard i.e. elytra. Also on prothorax lateral spines present. The grubs (larva) are large, yellowish white in colour, fleshy and about 100 18 mm in length with black head bearing strong mandibles.
LIFE CYCLE Life cycle completed in following stages 1) Eggs Female lays eggs singly under the bark of tree having crevices. Incubation period is 14-17 days. 2) Larva Larva is yellowish with black head and about 10 mm in length. It enters deep into the interior of the stem, roots and makes tunnels. Larval stage about 3-6 month.
3) Pupa After full growth grubs are undergo into pupation in the stem. Pupation is about 20-30days. 4) Adult After completion of pupation period, adult beetle emerges out.
NATURE OF DAMAGE The grubs and adults cause damage to bark of living twigs. The grubs makes tunnels in zig zag manner into the branches and trunk of trees. Also they attack on ground level and also on roots therefore branches become hollow and can easily break off / dry up.
CONTROL MEASURE A) Mechanical method Infested branches should be cut and burned to destroy larvae and pupae. B) Chemical method Pour a mixture of petrol and kerosene or a mixture of creosote and chloroform in holes and plug them with clay. Use 10 ml endrill 20EC or 4 ml methyl parathion 50 EC in 1 lit. Water. These solutions pour into the hole and plug by the mud. If infestations are severe then apply the copper oxychloride paste on the trunk of the tree.
Scientific name Callosobruchus chinensis Common name Pulse Beetle It is a example of order Coleoptera C. chinensis is one of the most damaging crop pests to the stored legume industry due to their generalized legume diets and wide distribution. Some of their common host plants include green gram, lentil, cowpea, pigeon pea, chickpea and other pea species though they are known to live on many more legume hosts.
Mark of identification Adults are roundish chocolate / brown in colour and about 4 mm in length. Also dark marking on elytra and white spot on the middle of the body. When beetles are observed from above they resemble heart shaped with 2 ivories like spots in the middle of the body. The grubs are white, cylindrical fleshy and wrinkled.
LIFE CYCLE Life cycle completed in following stages 1) Eggs Female lays eggs singly but several eggs can be seen on the same grain and also on green pods on field. Eggs are translucent, smooth and shining, elongated and oval. Incubation period is 4-5 days. 2) Larva Larva is creamy colour, slender with light brown head and hairs present on body. It makes tunnel and enter into the pulse. A fully grown larva become fleshy, white in colour and wrinkled. Larval period is 17-18 days.
3) Pupa Pupae are small and whitish in colour and then turn brownish in colour. Pupation period is 4-20 days. 4) Adult The adult beetle emerges out after cutting a circular hole in the seed coat. Males are 2-3 1.5-2.5 mm and females are 3-4 2-3 mm.
NATURE OF DAMAGE They attack on leguminous pods in the field to the godowns. Larva is voracious feeder which make tunnel and then enter into the pulse and grain then feeds up on the contents and making them hollow and empty. These type of grains and pulses are unfit for consumption to humans. Infested stored seed can be recognized by the white eggs on the seed surface and the round exit holes with the 'flap' of seed coat.
CONTROL MEASURE 1) Mechanical control Pulses should be properly sundried before storage. Broken seeds should not be stored for long periods. 2) Chemical methods Dusting of bags with safest insecticide like pyrethrum. Fumigation of carbon tetrachloride, methyl bromide. Dip the gunny bags in 10% Malathion solution. Fumigation with aluminum phosphide protects the seed without affecting the viability.
3) Biological Control Coat the seed with small quantities of vegetable oil or mix neem leaves in the stored grain.
Scientific name Sitophylus oryzae Common name Rice Weevil It is a example of order Coleoptera. The rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) is a stored product pest which attacks several crops, including wheat, rice, and maize.
Marks of identification Adults are small in size (4 mm) with long snout projecting downwards. Weevils are red brown / dark brown / black in colour. The functional wings hidden beneath the dark brown elytra with presence of 4 light reddish / yellowish spots and the weevil are good fliers. The grubs are white in colour, small and legless with yellow brown head.
LIFE CYCLE Life cycle completed in following stages 1) Eggs After copulation, female weevil bores the grains and deposits a single egg in the grain cavity. Lays about 300 500 eggs during her life cycle. Eggs are tiny, oval and white in colour. Incubation period is about 4-9 days. 2) Larva / Grub The grubs are dirty white/ yellowish in colour with dark brown head. Grubs bore the karnel of grain and enter into and develop. Larval period is about 19-34 days with 4 instars stages.
3) Pupa The full grown larva pupates inside the grain. Pupae are dirty white in colour and then later become black /brown. The pupal stage is about 3-6 days. 4) Adult After emerging, adult weevil start the breeding. Life span is about 2 5 months.
NATURE OF DAMAGE The grubs form the tunnel from the surface towards inside of the grain. The circular holes on the karnel of grain are the symptom of damage. Grubs are more destructive than adults. Adults are eating on small amount of grain and making shallow holes on the grains.
CONTROL MEASURES a) Mechanical control Grain should be properly sundried before storing and stored in new gunny bags. Godowns clean, damp proof and with heating arrangements. Use of neem leaves, mercury, mixing of ash etc. in rural areas.
b) Chemical control Grain should be mixed with 5% BHC at the rate of 0.15% by weight. Empty godowns should be sprayed with 0.4% BHC / DDT/ Pyrethrum / melathion before storage.
Think B Positive Make Life Positive -- Gugale P. Ramanlal