PRACTICAL MANUAL SEMESTER : V COURSE : ENTO 354

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PRACTICAL MANUAL

SEMESTER : V

COURSE : ENTO 354

COURSE TITLE : PESTS OF CROPS AND STORED GRAIN AND

THEIR MANAGEMENT

CREDITS : 2 (1+1)

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Syllabus

Theory

General account on nature and type of damage by different arthropods pests: Scientific

name, order, family, host range, distribution, biology, nature of damage and management of

insect pests of Cereals- Rice - Paddy stem borer, Green leaf hopper, Brown plant hopper,

White backed plant hopper, Gall midge, Paddy grasshopper, Blue beetle, Caseworm,

Armyworm, Gundhi bug, Hispa, Leaf folder. Sorghum – Shoot fly, Stem borer, Aphids,

Delphacids, Grasshopper, Earhead midge, Earhead caterpillars. Maize – Shoot fly, Stem

borer, Armyworm, Cob earworm. Bajra – Shoot fly, Blister beetle. Wheat – Stem borer,

Aphids, Termites. Minor millets. Pulses – Pigeon pea, chickpea, mungbean, urdbean,

cowpea, pea. Pigeon pea – Pod borer, Plume moth, Pod fly, Spotted pod borer, Leaf

webber, Mites. Chickpea – Gram pod borer, Aphids, Cutworm. Mung and Urdbean –

Aphids, Leaf eating caterpillar, Semilooper, Pod borer. Cowpea and Pea – Aphids, Blue

butterfly, Pod borer. Oilseeds - Groundnut – Leaf miner, Hairy caterpillar, Tobacco leaf

eating caterpillar, Aphids, Thrips, White grub, Pod sucking bug. Castor – Semilooper,

Capsule borer, Jassids, Tobacco leaf eating caterpillar. Sunflower – Capitulum borer, Hairy

caterpillar, Jassids, Thrips, Whitefly, Stem borer. Safflower- aphids, Capitulum borer, Guzia

weevil. Mustard – Aphids, Sawfly, Leaf webber. Linseed – Gall fly. Soybean – Stem fly,

Girdle beetle, Leaf miner, Tobacco leaf eating caterpillar, Whitefly, Semilooper, Gram pod

borer. Sesamum – Til hawk moth, Gall fly, leaf eating caterpillar. Niger – Semilooper, Gram

pod borer. Fiber crops –Cotton – Aphids, Jassids, Thrips, Whitefly, Mealy bugs, Spotted

bollworm, American bollworm, Pink bollworm, Tobacco leaf eating caterpillar, Leaf folder,

Semilooper, Red cotton bug, Dusky cotton bug, Grey weevil. Sunhemp and Mesta –

Sunhemp hairy caterpillar. Sugarcane crops - Early shoot borer, Internode borer, Top

shoot borer, Whitefly, Pyrilla, Woolly aphids, Mealy bug, Scale insect, Termites, White grub.

Non-insect pests of above crops – Crabs, Snails and Slugs, millepedes, Mites, Rats and

squirrels. Stored grain pests - Biology and damage of Primary and Secondary pests.

Primary store grain pests- Internal feeders - Rice weevil, lesser grain borer, pulse beetle

and Angoumois grain moth. External feeders - khapra beetle, Indian meal moth. Secondary

store grain pests – Rust red flour beetle, Saw toothed grain beetle, Long headed beetle.

Primary and Secondary store grain pests - Rice moth. Non insect pests, mites, rodents,

birds and microorganisms associated with stored grain and their management. Preventive

and curative methods of stored grain pests. Storage structure and methods of grain storage

and fundamental principles of grain store management.

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Practical

Identification of different type of damage. Identification and study of life cycle and seasonal

history of various insect pests attacking crops and their produce. Field crops: Cereals-

Rice, Sorghum, Maize, Bajra, Wheat and Miner millets. Pulses- Pigeon pea, Chickpea, Mung

bean, Urd bean, Cowpea and Pea. Oilseeds: Groundnut, Castor, Sunflower, Safflower,

Mustard, Linseed, Soybean, Sesamum and Niger. Fibre: Cotton, Sunhemp and Mesta. Sugar

crop: sugarcane. Non insect pests of field crops. Store grain pests. Non insect pests, mites,

rodents, birds and microorganisms associated with stored grain and their management.

Preventive and curative methods of stored grain pests. Storage structure and methods of

grain storage and fundamental principles of grain store management.

Marks distribution for practical examination

Spotting : 36

Viva-voce : 04

Practical manual : 05

Collection : 05

Total : 50

Suggested Readings

1) A.S. Atwal and G.S. Dhaliwal :Agricultural Pests of South Asia and their Management

2) B.V. David and V.V. Rammurthy: Elements of Economic Entomology

3) Manishekharan and Sudarrajan : Pest Management in Field Crops

4) Pedigo L.P. : Entomology and Pest Management

5) VenuGopal Rao: Insect Pest Management

6) B.P. Khare : Storage Entomology

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Teaching Schedule

a) Theory

Lecture

No.

Topic Weightage

(%)

Distribution, host range, biology, nature of damage and management of insect pests of ….

Cereals 20

1 Rice - Paddy stem borer, Green leaf hopper, Brown plant hopper, White backed plant hopper, Gall midge, Paddy grasshopper, Blue beetle, Caseworm, Armyworm, Gundhi bug, Hispa, Leaf folder

2 Sorghum – Shoot fly, Stem borer, Aphids, Delphacids, Grasshopper, Earhead midge, Earhead caterpillars

3 Maize – Shoot fly, Stem borer, Armyworm, Cob earworm

Bajra – Shoot fly, Blister beetle

Wheat – Stem borer, Aphids, Termites

Minor millets -

Pulses – Pigeon pea, chickpea, mungbean, urdbean, cowpea, pea 10

4 Pigeonpea – Pod borer, Plume moth, Pod fly, Spotted pod borer, Leaf webber, Mites

5 Chickpea – Gram pod borer, Aphids, Cutworm

Mung and Urdbean – Aphids, Leaf eating caterpillar, Semilooper, Pod borer

Cowpea and Pea – Aphids, Blue butterfly, Pod borer

Oilseeds 20

6 Groundnut – Leaf miner, Hairy caterpillar, Tobacco leaf eating caterpillar, Aphids, Thrips, White grub, Pod sucking bug

7 Castor – Semilooper, Capsule borer, Jassids, Tobacco leaf eating caterpillar

Sunflower – Capitulum borer, Hairy caterpillar, Jassids, Thrips, Whitefly, Stem borer

8 Safflower – Aphids, Capitulum borer, Guzia weevil

Mustard – Aphids, Sawfly, Leaf webber

Linseed – Gall fly

9 Soybean – Stem fly, Girdle beetle, Leaf miner, Tobacco leaf eating caterpillar, Whitefly, Semilooper, Gram pod borer

Sesamum – Til hawk moth, Gall fly, leaf eating caterpillar

Niger – Semilooper, Gram pod borer

Fiber crops 10

10 & 11 Cotton – Aphids, Jassids, Thrips, Whitefly, Mealy bugs, Spotted bollworm, American bollworm, Pink bollworm, Tobacco leaf eating caterpillar, Leaf folder, Semilooper, Red cotton bug, Dusky cotton bug, Grey weevil

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Sunhemp and Mesta – Sunhemp hairy caterpillar

Sugarcane crops 10

12 Sugarcane – Early shoot borer, Internode borer, Top shoot borer, Whitefly, Pyrilla, Woolly aphids, Mealy bug, Scale insect, Termites, White grub

13 Non-insect pests of above crops – Crabs, Snails and Slugs, millepedes, Mites, Rats and squirrels

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14 & 15 Stored grain pests - Biology and damage of Primary and Secondary pests Primary store grain pests- Internal feeders - Rice weevil, lesser grain borer, pulse beetle and Angoumois grain moth External feeders - khapra beetle, Indian meal moth Secondary store grain pests – Rust red flour beetle, Saw toothed grain beetle, Long headed beetle Primary and Secondary store grain pests - Rice moth

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16 Non insect pests, mites, rodents, birds and microorganisms associated with stored grain and their management

17 Preventive and curative methods of stored grain pests

18 Storage structure and methods of grain storage and fundamental principles of grain store management

Total 100

Practical

Experiment No. Topic

1 Pests of Rice

2 Pests of Sorghum

3 Pests of Maize, Bajra, Wheat and Miner millets

4 Pests of Pigeon pea

5 Pests of Chickpea, Mung bean, Urd bean, Cowpea and Pea

6 Pests of Groundnut

7 Pests of Castor and Sunflower

8 Pests of Safflower, Mustard, Linseed

9 Pests of Soybean, Sesamum and Niger

10 & 11 Pests of Cotton, Sunhemp and Mesta

12 Pests of Sugarcane

13 Non insect pests of field crops

14 & 15 Store grain pests

16 Non insect pests, mites, rodents, birds and microorganisms associated with stored grain and their management

17 Preventive and curative methods of stored grain pests

18 Storage structure and methods of grain storage and fundamental

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principles of grain store management

Exercise No. 1

PESTS OF RICE

Sr.

No.

Common Name Scientific Name Family Order

A) Stem boring insect

1 Paddy stem borer Scirpophaga incertulas Pyralidae Lepidoptera

B) Foliage pests

i. Sucking insects

2 Green leaf hopper Nephotettix virescens

N. nigropictus

Cicadellidae Hemiptera

3 Brown plant hopper Nilparvata lugens Delphacidae Hemiptera

4 White backed plant

hopper

Sogatella furcifera Delphacidae Hemiptera

ii. Chewing insects

5 Paddy gall fly Orseolia oryzae Cecidomyidae Diptera

6 Paddy blue beetle Leptispa pygmaea Chrysomelidae Coleoptera

7 Rice hispa Dicladispa armigera Chrysomelidae Coleoptera

8 Swarming caterpillar Spodoptera mauritia Noctuidae Lepidoptera

9 Paddy leaf roller Cnaphalocrocis

medinalis

Pyralidae Lepidoptera

10 Rice caseworm Nymphula depunctalis Pyralidae Lepidoptera

11 Gundhi bug Leptocorisa acuta Alydidae Hemiptera

12 Paddy grass hopper Hieroglyphus banian Acrididae Orthoptera

Paddy stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas)

It is one of the major pests and prevalent in many states across the country. It is a

serious pest in all the rice ecosystems, particularly in deep water rice and where more than

one crops of paddy are taken in a year.

Marks of identification : The female moths are straw coloured with bright yellowish

brown with a black spot on each fore wing. Male moth has a series of small dark spots on a

brown forewing. Hind wings are white. Wing span is about 25 mm. Full grown caterpillar is

about 25 mm long, yellowish white in colour with black coloured head.

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Host range : It is a monophagous pest and so far no other host has been recorded except

wild varieties of paddy.

Biology : Female moth lays about 100-200 long whitish eggs in clusters (80-150 eggs per

cluster) near the tip on the upper surface of the leaves, which are covered by brownish

hairs. They hatch in about a week and larvae initially feed on the tender leaves and then

bore into the stem. Larval period lasts for 4 to 5 weeks. Pupation takes place in the stem.

The moths emerge in 8 to 10 days. Generation is completed in about two months. There are

3-5 generations in a year. The pest hibernates in larval or pupal stages in the stubbles.

Nature of damage : The caterpillars initially feed on the tender leaves and then bore into

the stem and feed internally thus causing death of central shoot called “dead heart”. When

the attack is in seedling stage, seedling is killed, whereas during tillering stage, deadheart

formed tiller gets damaged. If they attack the crop in the later stage, the plants bear empty

ears, locally known as ‘Palinj’ or white ear head.

Management practices :

Avoid late transplanting of the crops.

Use stem borer resistant varieties i.e. Ratna, IR-20, IET-3127, 9691.

Remove affected tillers and destroy them.

Clipping off of leaf tips at the time of transplanting to destroy the egg masses.

Plough the field immediately after harvest and destroy the stubbles.

Conservation of frogs to keep down the incidence of stem borer, army worm, crabs

etc.

Release of laboratory based parasitoids, Trichogramma japonicum 4-5 times at

weekly intervals @ 50,000 parasitoids / ha on noticing stem borer moth activity.

Chemical control :

Nursery treatment :

Fifteen days after sowing, application of Phorate 10 G @ 10 Kg or Carbofuran 3 G @

50 Kg or Imidacloprid 0.3 GR @ 15 Kg or Cartap hydrochloride 4 G @ 18.75 Kg or

Fipronil 0.3 G @ 20 Kg or Chlorantraniliprole 0.4 GR @ 10 Kg or Benfuracarb 3 GR @

33 Kg/ha in the soil under saturated moisture conditions.

If granular application is not possible due to inadequate soil moisture (sloppy or

light type of soil) then spray with following insecticides, when 1 moth or 1 egg

mass/sq. mt is noticed.

Acephate 75 SP @ 1000 g or Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 1250 ml or Chlorpyriphos 50

EC @ 750 ml or Quinalphos 25 EC @ 1300 ml or Triazophos 40 EC @ 625 ml or

Fenitrothion 50 EC @ 800 ml or Ethofenprox 10 EC @ 500 ml or Monocrtophos 36

SL @ 1250 ml or Phosalone 35 EC @ 1400 ml or Bifenthrin 10 EC @ 500 ml or

Deltamethrin 11 EC @ 150 ml or Fenpropathrin 30 EC @ 330 ml or Lamda

cyhalothrin 4.9 CS @ 250 ml or Lamda cyhalothrin 2.5 EC @ 500 ml or Lamda

cyhalothrin 5 EC @ 250 ml or Carbosulfan 25 EC @ 1000 ml or Chlorantraniliprole

18.5 SC @ 150 ml or Chromafenozide 80 WP @ 100 g or Cartap hydrochloride 50 SP

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@ 1000 g or Fipronil 5 SC @ 1000 ml or Fipronil 80 WG @ 62.5 g or Flubendamide

20 WG @ 125 g or Flubendamide 39.35 SC @ 50 ml or Thiacloprid 21.7 SC @ 500 ml

or Thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 100 g or Chlorpyriphos 50 % + Cypermethrin 5 % EC @

625 ml/ha in 500 lit. water.

Dipping of seedlings : Dip seedling roots for 12 hours in the solution prepared by

mixing chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 500 ml in 500 litres of water (0.02 % solution). For

this treatment the bed should be prepared by spreading plastic sheet and making

ridges on all four ridges for preparing the solution.

Field application :

When 5 % dead hearts appear in the field or average 1 egg mass/sq.m, apply

granules in the soil as given under nursery treatment. At the time of

application, the field should have saturated moisture condition or maximum

of 7-10 cm of water level. Do not let in or drain out water for 4 days after

application or

Spray the crop with insecticides given under nursery treatment, when 5 %

affected tillers/sq.m. or 1 egg mass/sq.m or 1 moth / sq. m. is noticed.

Spray the crop with Azadirachtin 0.15 EC @ 1500 ml or Azadirachtin 0.03 EC

@ 2000 ml or Azadirachtin 5 % @ 200 g/ha in 500 lit. water.

Green leaf hopper (Nephotettix virescens, N. nigropictus)

They were supposed to be the minor pests in the past, but in recent years, they

appear in epidemic form in some parts of Maharashtra.

Marks of identification : The hoppers are wedge-shaped and green in colour measuring 4

to 5 mm in length. The adult is also green in colour with blackish apical margin and a black

spot on each forewing. The nymphs are also greenish in colour but are smaller and

wingless.

Host range : Paddy and grasses.

Biology : The female inserts the eggs in two rows on either side of mid-rib or leaf sheath. A

female lays about 420 eggs in 44 egg masses. The egg period is about 4 to 8 days. The

nymphs develop into adults in 15 to 20 days, passing through 4 to 5 nymphal instars. One

generation is completed in about 18 to 25 days. There are about six overlapping

generations from March to November. The insect overwinters in adult stage.

Nature of damage : Both nymphs and adults of green hopper suck the cell sap from leaves.

In case of serious attack, leaves initially become pale yellow, later on turn brown and

ultimately wither, without producing ears. However, when the attack during earhead

emergence stage, the pest devitalizes the plants and grain filling is adversely affected and

proportion of incompletely filled grain is increased. The green leaf hopper transmits

“tungro” and “rice yellow dwarf virus” disease.

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Soil application of Phorate 10 G @ 10 Kg or Carbofuran 3 G @ 25 Kg or Fipronil 0.3 G

@ 20 Kg or or Benfuracarb 3 GR @ 33 Kg/ha.

When the pest incidence is about 2 hoppers per hill during early tillering stage in

endemic areas or about 10 hoppers in other areas is noticed spray with the

following insecticides.

Azadirachtin 0.15 EC @ 1500 ml or Azadirachtin 0.03 EC @ 2000 ml or Azadirachtin

5 % @ 200 g or Acephate 75 SP @ 1000 g or Oxydemeton-methyl 25 EC @ 1000 ml

or Quinalphos 25 EC @ 1500 ml or Triazophos 40 EC @ 625 ml or Dichlorvas 76 EC

@ 470 ml or Ethofenprox 10 EC @ 500 ml or Monocrtophos 36 SL @ 1250 ml or

Phosalone 35 EC @ 1400 ml or Phenthoate 50 EC @ 500 ml or Bifenthrin 10 EC @

500 ml or Deltamethrin 11 EC @ 150 ml or Lamda cyhalothrin 2.5 EC @ 500 ml or

Lamda cyhalothrin 5 EC @ 250 ml or Carbosulfan 25 EC @ 800 ml or Fipronil 5 SC @

1000 ml or Thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 100 g or Imidacloprid 70 WG @ 50 g or

Imidacloprid 30.5 SC @ 60 ml or Imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 100 ml or Acetamiprid 20

SP @ 50 g or Clothianidin 50 WDG @ 20 g or Dinotefuran 20 SG @ 150 g or

Fenobucarb 50 EC @ 500 ml or Buprofezin 25 EC @ 800 ml or Deltamethrin 0.72 %

+ Buprofezin 5.65 % EC @ 1250 ml or Ethiprol 40 % + Imidacloprid 40 % WG @ 100

g/ha in 500 lit. water.

Plant hoppers (Nilparvata lugens, Sogatella furcifera)

Two species of plant hoppers are considered important pasts of rice. One is brown

plant hopper Nilparvata lugens and another is white backed plant hopper Sogatella

furcifera. Brown plant hopper is considered to be the most serious and dangerous pest of

rice worldwide. However, along with this pest, white backed plant hopper is also found

attacking the crop in serious proportions in our locality. Losses to the extent of 100% are

recorded when heavy outbreak of the pest occurred.

Marks of identification :

i) Brown plant hopper : Nymphs are initially pale yellowish and turn brownish later.

Adults are also brown coloured and measure about 3 to 4 mm in length.

ii) White backed plant hoppers : Nymphs are initially dull white and turn yellowish as

they grow with black patches on the dorsal margin of tapering abdomen. The newly

formed adults are greyish, turning yellowish brown subsequently. Adults measure 3 to 4

mm in length. The dorsal region of pro and mesothorax i.e. back is creamy white

longitudinally and lateral sides are blackish. The wings are also yellowish brown. The

wings of both the plant hoppers slope over the sides of the body when at rest.

Host range : Graminaceous weeds associated with rice crop and haryali are most preferred

parallel hosts.

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Biology : Both the plant hoppers have almost similar life style. The female adult deposits

the eggs in a single row in batches inside the leaf sheath or on lower side of the leaf midrib

by making the incision in the tissues. The eggs are minute, cylindrical creamy white initially

and turn somewhat yellowish before hatching. About 100 to 150 eggs are laid by a female.

Incubation period lasts for 5 to 6 days during favourable conditions. The nymphs develop

into adults in about two weeks and one generation is completed in 18 to 25 days.

Brachypterous adults are formed during initial generations when ample food and preferred

conditions exist. Macropterous adults are developed when migration becomes necessary.

Nature of damage : Both the plant hoppers have a peculiar habit of attacking the crop

from the middle of the field. Both nymphs and adults suck the plant sap from the leaf

sheath. Attacked plants turn yellowish with drying of the leaves from the tips. Later plants

wither and dry up. Thus circular damage patches are noticed in the field spreading all

around if pest is not controlled in time and such circular reddish brown patches are called

as “hopper burn”.


As the pest restricts to the leaf sheaths below the dense leaf canopy of plants and as

the attack begins from the middle of the field, commencement of attack is mostly not

noticed unless yellowish patches in middle of fields is noticed. However, when the

symptoms of damage appear, crop protection measures become futile. It is

therefore, necessary to have regular surveillance of the crop by examining

diagonally the leaf sheaths above the surface of water in bundles.

When 5 nymphs or adults per hill during the post tilling phase or 10 nymphs per hill

during flowering stage, management practices should be undertaken.

Spray the insecticides recommended for green leaf hopper.

Paddy gall fly (Orseolia oryzae)

The paddy gall-fly or gall midge is found in most of the paddy growing areas in the

southern and eastern parts of India. In Karnataka, the infestation is noticed in seed beds

and 30 – 40 days old transplanted crop in Karavali and Malnad areas (High rainfall areas).

Marks of identification : The fly lays elongate, cylindrical, shinning white or red or

pinkish eggs singly or in clusters (2-6) at the base of the leaves. Maggot is 1 mm long after

hatching with pointed anterior end. It creeps down the sheath and enters the growing bud.

An oval chamber is formed round the site of feeding. At the time of emergence the pupa

wriggles up the tube with the help of antennal horn to the tip of the silver shoot and

projects half way out. The adult fly is yellowish brown and mosquito like. The male is ash

grey in colour. Adults feed on dewdrops.

Host range : Wild rice, such as Oryza rufipogon are common alternate hosts.

Biology : The adults are mainly nocturnal and hide during the day. The females lay small

batches of eggs (up to 6) on the undersides of rice leaves. The tiny larvae crawl down the

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leaf sheath till they reach the leaf axil where they bore their way into the stem. After

feeding for about 10 days and forming a pupa pupate inside. Four to seven days later they

use spines on the tip of the abdomen to make a hole in the gall near its tip. Here the adult

insects emerge. They live for 3-4 days, and there may be as many as 8 generations of midge

in the year.

Nature of damage : The larvae of the rice gall midge irritate the tissues of the rice plant

which forms a gall commonly known as a silver shoot or onion shoot. This is a pale

cylindrical, hollow tube with a green tip replacing the normal culm (stem). The gall is

formed from the walls of the leaf sheath growing together, after which the culm stops

developing. The stem is stunted and the seed-head does not develop. When the adult

insects emerge, the gall withers away and the shoot dies. The plant may respond by

producing more tillers, but these usually become infected in their turn.


Release Platygaster oryzae parasitised galls on 10 days after transplanting (DAT).

Early ploughing.

Harvest the crop and plough immediately.

Remove the alternate hosts and adjust the time of planting (early).

Optimum recommendation of potash fertilizer.

Setup light trap and monitor the adult flies.

Application of Carbosulfan 6 G @ 16.7 Kg or Chlorpyriphos 10 G @ 10 Kg or Fipronil

0.3 GR @ 25 Kg / ha.

Spray Carbosulfan 25 EC @ 800 ml or Ethofenprox 10 EC @ 500 ml or Fipronil 5 SC

@ 1000 ml or Lamda cyhalothrin 2.5 EC @ 500 ml or Lamda cyhalothrin 5 EC @ 250

ml or Thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 100 g / ha in 500 lit. water.

Paddy blue beetle (Leptispa pygmaea)

This pest occasionally causes damage to the paddy. It has an all India distribution

and infests the paddy crop along with rice hispa.

Marks of identification : The adults are small, metallic blue beetles with a series of black

dots on the elytra. It measures 1 /4th to 1/5th of an inch in length and 1 /8th inch in width.

Biology : The eggs are laid on the paddy leaves. They hatch in about 3-5 days. The larval

period lasts for about 12-15 days after which they pupate inside the roll. After 5-7 days the

adult emerges out. The life cycle is completed in about three weeks.

Nature of damage : The grubs are surface feeders and they scrap the green matters of the

leaves. The adult also, feed upon the leaves but the serious damage is caused only by the

grubs. The affected leaf become membranous and dries up soon. It is primarily the pest of

seedlings.


Deep and thorough ploughing of the field.

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Crop rotation.

Plucking the infected leaves in minor infection and uprooting of the whole plant in

case of major infection.

Spraying of Quinalphos 25 EC @ 1500 ml / ha in 500 lit. water.

Rice hispa (Dicladispa armigera)

It is a major pest of rice in parts of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and southern

China. It has a long record of sporadic outbreaks in India and Bangladesh. The intensity of

outbreaks seems to increase following the large-scale adoption of high-yielding rice

varieties and their associated production technologies.

Marks of identification : Adult is a small bluish-black beetle fringed with numerous short

spines over the body. Larva dorso-ventrally flattened, pale yellow, 2.4 (first instar) to 5.5

(mature) mm long. Pupa dorso-ventrally flattened, 4.6 mm long, brown in colour.

Biology : The female beetle starts laying eggs only 3- 4 days after emergence and continues

to do so for a month. A female lays upto 300 eggs. Eggs are pushed inside the leaf tissues

singly close to the leaf tips. They hatch in about 5-7 days. The grubs start feeding on the

mesophyll portion of the leaf and become fully grown in about 15 days. Pupation takes

place inside the tunnels formed by larvae which lasts for nearly 5 days. The total life cycle

is completed in about 20-25 days. The maximum life span for adults is about 80 days.

Generally six life cycles are completed by the insect in one year. In the absence of rice the

insect keep themselves alive on graminaceous weeds.

Nature of damage : Adult feeds externally on leaf tissue. The larvae mine into the leaf.

Both the adult beetle and the grub damage the rice plant by eating the green tissue of the

leaf. Severely infested leaves dry up, and present a white, dried-up appearance in the field.

From a distance, severely damaged fields look burnt.


Clipping of leaf tip before transplantation.

Nursery bed are flooded, the beetle float and can be collected at a corner of nursery

and destroyed.

Grasses around the paddy field should be destroyed before the paddy

transplantation.

Spray Lamda cyhalothrin 2.5 EC @ 500 ml or Lamda cyhalothrin 5 EC @ 250 ml or

Quinalphos 25 EC @ 1500 ml / ha in 500 lit. water.

Swarming caterpillar (Spodoptera mauritia)

It is cosmopolitan species and major polyphagous pest throughout the world. In

South India it is common in all the rice growing tracts, especially along the West Coast and

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the Delta tracts. In some parts of India it is considered as major pest of paddy and causes

serious damage while in other parts it occasionally causes severe damage. Locally it is

called as “Patar Katti”.

Marks of identification : Eggs are spherical and creamy in colour, which are laid in a

group covered over with grey hairs. Caterpillars are light green with yellowish white lateral

and dorsal stripes in the early stages and later become dark brown or grayish green in

colour with a crescent (semi-circular) shaped black spot on the side of each segment. Pupa

is dark brown and measures 16-17 mm long. Moth is medium sized, stout built dark brown

with a conspicuous triangular black spot on the forewings. Hind wings are brownish white

with thin black margins.

Host range : Swarming caterpillar attacks a wide range of graminaceous plant species.

Rice is the main host of S. mauritia. This pest, in general, breeds on other hosts like

different kinds of grasses and occasionally on maize, oat and sorghum.

Biology : The moths mate 1-2 days after the emergence and start ovipositing shortly after

mating. A single female generally lays 5-6 oblong egg masses each containing 150-200 eggs

at the tips of upright leaves. Eggs are covered with gray hairs/setae from the anal tuft of the

female. Oviposition period is 5-6 days. Eggs laid by female ranges from 528 to 1084.

Incubation period of the eggs is 3-9 days. The larvae undergo 5-6 instars during larval

development period of 17-32 days. Pupation takes place in the soil in an earthen cell

slightly below the ground level. Pupal period lasts for 7-10 days. The life cycle of this pest is

completed in 25 to 40 days on rice plant as the main host, through eggs, larvae/caterpillars,

pupae and adults. It completes 3-4 generations in a year.

Nature of damage : The caterpillar feed at night on the leaves and defoliates the plants

completely. Generally they invade the transplanted plots in large number in big swarm and

devastate the whole plot overnight like cattle’s do. After finishing the crop of one field the

swarm marches to another field in a regular army formation manner, hence this pest is also

called as “Army worm”. Loss to the paddy yield caused by this pest varies from 10 to 20%.


In case of severe attack of this pest, the entire area should be isolated by trenching

and the crop should be ploughed up.

Collection of caterpillars with a hand net or sweeping basket and their destruction.

Spary Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 1250 ml/ha in 500lit. water during late evening.

Paddy leaf roller (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis)

Marks of identification : The moth is very active, bright yellow or straw in colour with

two distinct wavy lines in the fore wing and one wavy distinct line in the hind wing. It has a

wing span of 15mm. The fully grown caterpillar is green in color and is 16.5mm long.

Host range : The larvae are considered a pest on rice, maize, wheat and sorghum.

14

Biology : Eggs are laid singly or in groups arranged in longitudinal rows on the

undersurface of the leaves which are scaly white in color. Fecundity is about 56 eggs.

Incubation period is 4–8 days. There are 5–6 larval instars, larval period is about 22–23

days. It pupates within the infested leaf fold for a period of 6–7 days. The total life cycle

completed in about 5 weeks.

Nature of damage : Before feeding, larvae fold the leaves longitudinally by stitching the

leaf margins. Individual spun threads fuse to form a band: the desiccation of the band

facilitates contraction of silk stitches, hence, the leaf rolls. Once protected, the larvae scrape

and feed on the green tissues (the mesophyll layer) of the rice leaves, resulting in the

appearance of linear, pale-white stripe damage. In severe infestations, damaged plants

appear sickly and scorched.


Use resistant varieties.

Follow rice with a different crop, or fallow period.

Avoid ratoning.

Flood and plow field after harvesting if possible.

Remove grassy weeds from fields and borders.

Reduce density of planting.

Use balanced fertilizer rates.

Soil application of Benfuracarb 3 GR @ 33 Kg or Carbosulfan 6 G @ 16.7 Kg or

Cartap hydrochloride 4 G @ 25 Kg or Chlorantraniliprole 0.4 GR @ 10 Kg or

Chlorpyriphos 10 G @ 10 Kg or Chlorantraniliprole 0.5 + Thiamethoxam 1 GR @ 6

Kg / ha.

Spray Bacillus thuriengiensis @ 2 Kg or Beauveria bassiana @ 2.5 Kg or Bifenthrin 10

EC @ 500 ml or Cartap hydrochloride 50 SP @ 1000 g or Cartap hydrochloride 75

SG @ 500 g or Chlorpyriphos 50 EC @ 750 ml or Deltamethrin 11 EC @ 150 ml or

Deltamethrin 1.8 EC @ 625 ml or Ethofenprox 10 EC @ 500 ml or Fipronil 80 WG @

62.5 g or Flubendiamide 20 WG @ 125 g or Flubendiamide 39.35 SC @ 50 ml or

Indoxacarb 15.8 EC @ 200 ml or Lamda cyhalothrin 2.5 EC @ 500 ml or Lamda

cyhalothrin 5 EC @ 250 ml or Quinalphos 25 EC @ 1500 ml or Thiamethoxam 25

WG @ 100 g or Chlorpyriphos 50 + Cypermethrin 5 EC @ 625 ml or Deltamethrin

0.72 + Buprofezin 5.65 EC @ 1250 ml / ha in 500 lit. water.

Rice caseworm (Nymphula depunctalis)

It is found in all the rice growing tracts of India and assumes serious proportions in

certain season under swampy conditions.

Marks of identification : Moth is small, delicate white with pale brown wavy markings.

The adult moth is about 5 mm long. It is bright white with light brown and black spots.

Individual egg is circular, flattened, and measures 0.5 mm in diameter. It is light yellow and

15

has a smooth surface. Mature eggs are darker and develop two purplish dots. Larva is pale

translucent green with orange head. It has filamentous gills on the sides of the body. The

larvae are found hanging from the leaf and measures upto 15mm long. The pupa is cream

in color and about 5.5 mm long. Mature pupa is silvery white.

Host range : Rice and weeds in rice fields.

Biology : Eggs are laid on leaves and leave sheath in rows and batches. A female lays about

150 eggs which hatch in about a week. The caterpillars undergo six instars and is

characterised by the presence of tubular gills on its body. The gills become branched with

the growth in the caterpillar’s size. Larger cases are made by the succeeding larval instars.

The larval stage pupates inside the last case. Before pupation the case is attached to the leaf

sheath above the water level and its both ends are plugged. The pupal period lasts for

about a week, after which it is converted into an adult insect. The pest is active during the

monsoon and there may be two or three broods in a season. The life cycle is completed in

about 35-40 days.

Nature of damage : The early stages of the crop are damaged by the caterpillars of this

pest. The leaf blades are eaten away completely leaving the mid rib only. They also

construct tubular cases inside leaves and remain inside these leave rolls and feeds upon the

foliage. The weeds in rice field serves as alternate host for this insect.

Management practices

Use of correct fertilizer application.

Plant early and use wider spacing (30 × 20 cm).

Drain the field.

Transplant older seedlings. Sparse planting can also reduce the damage.

Encourage biological control agents: snails (feed on eggs), hydrophilid and dytiscid

water beetles (feed on larvae), spiders, dragonflies, and birds (feed on adults),

nuclear polyhedrosis virus (a potential control agent).

Paddy gundhi bug (Leptocorisa acuta)

The rice gundhi bug is a common and important insect pest of rice. The bugs prefer to

attack milk stage grains. The most common species of rice bug are Leptocorisa oratorius F.

and Leptocorisa acuta Thunberg. It is generally distributed throughout India but is more

prevalent in Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and southern states.

Marks of identification : The bug is about 19 mm in length with long legs and antennae.

Its body is slender and green or brown in colour. Eggs are laid on the leaves in groups of

10-20 in straight rows. Eggs are oval shaped and dark reddish brown. The nymph is

slender, wingless and brownish green. As it grows up, the green colour deepens. The fully

grown nymph is about 14-16 mm long.

Host range : Leptocorisa acuta feeds primarily on graminaceous plants such as rice, wheat,

and sugarcane. It is thought that rice in the flowering stage is the preferred host. Other

16

important hosts include many well-known weeds. Other reported hosts include mango,

guava, jackfruit and beans.

Biology : The adults are crepuscular (active during the early morning and late afternoon).

After 8-29 days, adults of both sexes are fully mature. Adults may live up to 69 days. A

female lays up to 25-87 eggs over their life time. Eggs are deposited in single or double

rows of 10 to 20 on the upper surfaces of the leaves of the host plant. After 6-8 days, the

eggs hatch into nymphs. This stage continues for 17-23 days; after that nymph develops

into an adult stage. This pest is more common during July to November. During winter their

breeding rate is lowered much and the adults manage to tide over the cold on several

species of grasses. On paddy it has five broods during the season.

Nature of damage : Both adults and nymphs suck fluid from young shoots, leaves, florets

and soft grains using their piercing and sucking mouthparts. As a result, whitish spots

appear at the site of feeding. Black or brown spots appear around the holes made by the

bugs on which sooty mould may develop. The infested grains easily break during milling.

Rice fields severely affected by the bug emit a repugnant smell, hence the name gundhi bug.


Remove weeds from fields and surrounding areas to prevent the multiplication of

rice bugs during fallow periods.

Level fields with even applications of fertilizer and water encourage rice to grow

and develop is at the same rate.

Planting fields, within a village, at the same time (synchronous planting) also helps

reduce rice bug problems.

Capturing rice bugs, in the early morning or late afternoon, by net can be effective at

low rice bug densities, though labor intensive.

Encourage biological control agents: Some wasps, grasshoppers and spiders attack

rice bugs or rice bug eggs.

Rice Grasshopper (Hieroglyphus banian)

It is an important pest of rice. It causes heavy damage to nurseries and reduces

yield. It is distributed throughout India and is considered to be a major pest of paddy.

Marks of identification : In adult, the body is a shiny greenish yellow colour with three

black lines on its upper side. In the early stages, the young are yellowish, with many

reddish brown spots. They become greenish as they grow older.

Host range : Rice grasshoppers feed throughout the year on rice, maize, millet, sugarcane

and other grasses.

Biology : Breeding season is from October to December. Eggs are laid in soil on the field

bunds in the mass of 30 to 40. The hoppers emerge out in the month of June, after the first

monsoon rain. They feed on the leaves of paddy or the grasses on the bund. The hoppers

take 70 days in case of male and 80 days in case of females to become sexually mature.

17

Nature of damage : Both young and adult stages feed upon the leaves and shoots of paddy.

They also cut off the ear heads.


Flood the stubbles, shave bunds, sweep along the bunds, and pick adults directly

from the foliage at night when they are sluggish.

Encourage biological control agents: scelionid wasps, parasitic flies, nematodes, and

fungal pathogens, birds, frogs, and web-spinning spiders etc.

Use poison baits from salt water and rice bran.

*****

18

Exercise No. 2

PESTS OF SORGHUM

Sr.No. Common Name Scientific Name Family Order

A) Seedling and stem boring Pests

1 Jowar shoot fly Atherigona soccata Muscidae Diptera

2 Jowar stem borer Chilo partellus Pyralidae Lepidoptera

B) Foliage pests

i. Chewing pests

3 Surface

grasshopper

Chrotogonus spp. Acrididae Orthoptera

ii. Sucking pests

4 Aphid Rhopalosiphum maidis Aphididae Hemiptera

5 Delphacid Peregrinus maidis Delphacidae Hemiptera

C) Earhead pests

6 Jowar earhead

midge (midge fly)

Contarinia sorghicola Cecidomyiidae Diptera

7 Earhead

caterpillar

Helicoverpa armigera Noctuidae Lepidoptera

8 Webworm Cryptoblabes

angustipennella

Pyralidae Lepidoptera

Jowar shoot fly (Atherigona soccata)

The sorghum shoot fly is also known as the sorghum stem fly. In India, it is more

serious in southern parts. In past, it was considered to be the minor pest. But with the

introduction of hybrid varieties, which are comparatively more susceptible to the attack of

pests, it has assumed a major status causing infestation upto 80% and loss in yield as high

as 60 per cent.

Marks of identiflcation : The adult shoot fly looks like a general house fly, but it is smaller

in size (3 mm long). It is dark grey in colour and there are 4 to 5 dark spots on dorsal side

of abdomen. The eggs are elongate, flattened and somewhat boat shaped and is provided

with two lateral projections. Maggots are apodous, tapering towards head. Fully developed

maggot is pale yellowish colored, measuring 10-12 mm in length.

Host range : Jowar and other millets.

Biology : Each female lays singly about 40 eggs mostly on the lower surface of the leaves

or some time on tender stem of young plant. The eggs hatch within 2 to 3 days. The larval

period lasts for 10 to 12 days. Pupation takes place inside the stem and it extends for about

19

a week. After which the adult flies emerge and female starts laying eggs on other seedling.

A generation is completed in 2 to 3 weeks and there are several generations in a year. The

pests carry over winters in larval or pupal stage in the stubbles.

Nature of damage : The shoot fly attacks the sorghum crop in the seedling stage only,

starting its attack soon after germination and continuing up to 7th leaf stage. Damaging

stage is maggot. The maggot on hatching from egg crawls down within the leaf sheath, till

reaches the base of the seedling. Then it bores into the axis of the seedlings and feed on the

central shoot. As a result, the central shoot becomes initially pale yellow and finally causing

a characteristic dead hearts. The earlier plants are almost dead. When the attacked plants

are somewhat older, tillers are produced which mature later than main crop. The pest

attack is more severe in case of late sown jowar varieties in the kharif season ( July- August

sowing ). Cloudy weather favours the multiplication of this pest and infestation is higher in

irrigated fields.


Cultural and mechanical methods

Early sowing of hybrid varieties of jowar in Kharif, latest by first week of July.

Increase the seed rate of hybrid jowar to 11 kg per hectare, if sowing is delayed.

Removal and destruction of affected shoots along with the larvae.

Use resistant (Maldandi 35-1) or less susceptible varieties viz. I.S. 5490, I.S. 2130,

RSV9R (Swati), SPV - 86

Chemical control :

Seed treatment :

o Imidacloprid 70 WS @ 10 g or Imidacloprid 48 FS @ 12 g or Thiamethoxam

70 WS @ 3 g or Thiamethoxam 30 FS @ 10 g per Kg seed.

o Carbosulfan 25 STD – 200 g be mixed in 1 Kg seed of jowar before sowing

mix the mixture thoroughly.

The seed treatment with above insectticides gives better results. Howerver if the

seed is not treated then;

o First spraying 7 days after germination with Oxydemeton-methyl 25 EC @

1000 ml/ha or Quinalphos 25 EC @ 1500 ml/ha as soon as 10% seedlings are

infested or 1 egg / 10 seedlings is noticed.

o If necessary, second spraying 10 days after the first spraying of above

insecticides. OR

o Apply Phorate 10 G @ 18.75 Kg/ha in soil when moisture is present.

Jowar stem borer (Chilo partellus)

It is the most destructive pest of sorghum. It is found throughout India. The pest is

generally observed in the grand growth stage of the crop, i.e. month after sowing. But the

infestation on full grown crop even after earhead formation is not uncommon. The pest is

20

active throughout the year but the infestation is more pronounced on rabi and hot weather

crops. Hybrid varieties of jowar are reported to be more susceptible to the attack of the

pest than the other varieties.

Marks of identification : Moths are straw coloured with pale yellowish grey forewings,

having minute dots on the apical margin. The hindwings are whitish. Wing expanse is

about 25 mm. The caterpillars are dirty white in colour with brown head and many dark

spots on the body. Full grown caterpillar measures about 12 to 19 mm in length, having 4

broad and patchy strips.

Host range : Although it is a principal pest of jowar and maize, it has also been recorded on

sugarcane and some grasses.

Biology : A female lays about 300 creamy white coloured oval eggs in clusters overlapping

each other in batches on under surface of the leaves, near midrib and occasionally on stalk.

They hatch in about 6 days. Newly hatched caterpillars feed on tender leaves for a day or

two and then bore into the central shoot and cause dead hearts. Larval stage lasts for about

3 to 4 weeks. The pupation takes place inside the stem. However before pupation the larva

prepares a hole for the moth to come out. Pupal period lasts for 7 to 10 days. The adult

lives for 2 to 4 days. Total life cycle is completed in 6 to 7 weeks. The pest is active from

June to November and about 4 generations are completed in a year. The pest hibernates in

the larval stage in stubbles or harvested stems.

Nature of damage : The newly hatched larvae crawl over the leaf for about 15-30 minutes

and feed on the leaves and then enter the central whorl (Numerous small pin holes are

seen in the leaf lamina) and feed there for one or two days. Thereafter, the larvae bore into

the stem thereby causing the death of central shoot, commonly known as ‘deadheart’. The

midrib of leaves is often noticed mined by newly hatched larvae.

However, in the later stage of crop the deadhearts are not formed even though

larvae continue to bore the stem and tunnel them. The damage into the earlier stage of crop

is more spectacular and causes more loss than in the grown-up crop. If the attack is

continued during earhead stage the larvae bore into peduncles which may break by wind

and affect grain filling.

Management practices : The pest being internal feeder, it is very difficult to control.

However, the following preventive measures are found to be practicable and useful.

Collecting and burning of the stubbles, after the harvest of previous crop to destroy

the hibernating larvae.

Cutting the jowar straw into smaller pieces or making silage of the harvested straw

for the destruction of hibernating larvae soon after harvesting.

Removal of stems showing dead hearts with larvae and their destruction.

The first instar larvae have a tendency to concentrate in the central whorl and this habit is

recently found to be of great value in their control. Hence the following chemical measures

are recommended.

21

Chemical control : As soon as the attack of the pest is seen spray with Chlorpyriphos 20

EC @ 1250 ml/ha. Repeat the above application 10 days after the first application.

Concentrate spraying in the whorls.

Surface grasshopper (Chrotogonus spp.)

It is a minor pest but occasionally assumes a serious form, especially in crops, grown

under light soil.

Mark of identification : Hoppers are 18 to 20 mm long, medium black coloured with

various spots and a rough body.

Host range : lt is a polyphagous pest, found on crops like jowar, maize, groundnut, cotton.

Biology : Eggs are laid in batches of 30-40 are laid in soil along the bunds and in fallow

land from October to December. The eggs hatch in June-July with the onset of rains.

Nymphal period is 70-80 days (moult 5-6 times). Only one generation is completed in a

year. The pest overwinters through egg stage in soil.

Nature of damage : Nymphs and adults feed on leaves and tender shoots causing

defoliation of the crop in severe infestation.

Management Practices :

Deep ploughing after the harvest of crop so as to expose the egg masses in soil.

Since the initial infestation of the pest is restricted to grasses on bund, it is advisable

to dust the bunds with methyl parathion 2% dust as soon as the hoppers are noticed

and check their migration to main crop.

Dusting the crop in early stage with methyl parathion 2% dust @ 20 kg/ha gives

satisfactory control of the pest.

Aphids (Rhopalosiphum maidis) and Delphacids (Peregrinus maidis)

They are the most important pests of jowar and heavy infestation is noticed on rabi

crops Besides sucking the sap from the foliage, their injuries cause exuding of cell sap,

which crystalizes on evaporation. They also excrete honeydew like substances. This type

of formation of sugary material on the plant is locally called as “Chikta” or “Sugary disease”.

As a result of the infestation of these pests, the yield is adversely affected and the fodder

quality also deteriorated.

Marks of identification :

Aphids : They are minute soft bodied, oblong insects usually light green or slightly yellow

in colour They remain stationary mostly on the lower surface of the leaves and do not

move unless disturbed. They are mostly wingless but become winged at the time of

maturity of the crop

Delphacids : Nymphs are initially yellowish in colour and later turn pale yellow. The

adults are greyish yellow. The body is wedge shaped.

Host range : Cereals

22

Biology :

Aphids : Females reproduce viviparously and parthenogenetically. On an average, each

female produces about 42 young ones within a period of 5 days. A generation is completed

within 2 weeks.

Delphacids : The female lays about 150 eggs in row along the midribs of leaves in a period

of 5 to 9 days. They hatch in 7 to 8 days and the nymphs moult 5 times in a period of 15 to

20 days. A generation is completed in about 3 weeks.

Nature of damage : Nymphs and adults of both the pests suck the cell sap from the leaves.

As a result, the leaves turn yellow and in case of heavy infestation, the plants remain

stunted. Due to sugary material oozing out of the plants attacked by the aphids and

delphacids and also honey dew secretion of the pests, the black sooty mould develops and

the leaves turn blackish which affects adversely the photosynthesis activity and thereby

leads to reduction in the yield.

Management practices : First application of Dimethoate 30 EC @ 500 ml/ha or Methyl

demeton 25 EC @ 400 ml/ha or Imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 140 ml/ha or Thiamethoxam 25

WG @ 150 g/ha. should be done immediately after the pest incidence. Second spraying

should be taken at 10 to 15 days interval after 1st spraying.

Earhead midge (Sorghum midge fly) (Contarinia sorghicola)

Among all the sorghum pests this is the most cosmopolitan and occurring nearly in

all regions of the world; wherever the jowar crops are grown. In India this pest was

reported for the first time by Fletcher in the year 1914 in Madras State. But it was

considered as a negligible pest. However, severe infestation of this pest was noticed in

Vidarbha and Marathwada region of Maharashtra, during 1970-71 and the total estimated

loss in yield was reported as 40%. Thereafter, the pest occurred more of less regularly

every year in our region.

In the past the cultivators used to sow only local varieties of jowar more or less at

the same time. They mostly flowered at the same time and therefore the pest was not

getting prolonged flowering span for feeding and multiplication. However, with the

introduction of high yielding, short duration, and hybrid varieties of jowar during the year

1965-66 and due to intensive cultivation and multiple cropping systems, this pest got

prolonged flowering span and favourable atmosphere for its multiplication over a long

period of time. Therefore, late flowering hybrids or local varieties suffered severely. The

losses vary from 20 to 50 % or even more.

Marks of identification : The adult fly is a slender bodied insect, measuring about 2 mm

in length. The abdomen is bright orange in colour. The wings are transparent and when

closed the wings extend, just beyond the tip of the abdomen. The maggots are creamy

white when newly hatched, but later on turn orange red.

Host range : Jowar, bajra and other graminaceous plants like Sudan grass, Johnson grass.

23

Biology : Adult midges mate soon after emergence and each female lays about 30 to 100

eggs. The eggs are deposited in the flowering spikelets with her long ovipositor. Peak

oviposition activity is observed from 8 to 10 a.m. and for about one hour before sunset.

The females seldom live for more than a day, while the males live just a few hours. The eggs

hatch in about 2 days. The full grown larvae are orange in colour and can be detected by the

pale red fluid that exits from a crushed infested glume. Larval development requires 9 to

11 days and pupal period lasts for 3 days. In this way the complete life cycle may require

14 to 16 days and there may be 9 to 12 generations during a season. The midge

overwinters in the larval stage in aborted spikelets within a cocoon. Some may remain in

this stage of diapause, which is resistant to cold and dessication, even upto 3 to 4 years.

Nature of damage : The newly hatched maggots feed on the developing ovary, resulting

into complete or partial sterility. The injury can be easily noticed as it is stained with red

colour.


Immediately after threshing, the threshed panicles and bhusa may be fed to cattle or

burnt so as to destroy the hibernating maggots.

Complete the sowing of hybrid varieties for jowar latest by the first week of July.

As far as possible undertake zonal sowing of same type of jowar varieties, so that

they will flower uniformly.

First undertake sowing of mid-late varieties of jowar (CSH-5, CSH 6 etc.) then after seven

days, sow early varieties like CSH-1 etc. lastly after 15 days the local varieties of jowar

should be sown. As a result mid .late and early varieties of jowar will flower at the same

time and there will be an interval of about one month in their flowering time and that of

local varieties of jowar. This will interrupt the breeding of midges as they will not get

continuous flowering span for their multiplication. Consequently late sown varieties will

escape from the attack of midges.

Field application, 1st application as soon as about 30-50% earhead emerge, spray or

dust with pesticides as follows:

Malathion 50 EC @ 1000 ml or Phosalone 35 EC @ 1150 ml or Dimethoate 30 EC @ 1650

ml/ha. Second application 15 days after the first application with any one of the above

insecticides.

Earhead caterpillar (Helicoverpa armigera)

Marks of identification : Moths stoutly built, light brown, medium sized, forewings with

few dark specks near the margin, hindwings lighter with smoky dark margins caterpillars

greenish to brownish with scattered short white hairs and dark brown stripes along the

sides of the body, 35 mm in length. Larva remains concealed in the inner branches of the

ear and feeds on the grains.

24

Host range : It is polyphagous feeding on gram, cotton, tomato, peas, tobacco, maize,

safflower etc.

Biology : Eggs are laid singly on tender part of the plant. Incubation period is 3-4 days.

Larval period 3-4 weeks. Pupation takes place in soil, pupal period is 6-12 days. Carryover

pest hibernate in pupal stage in soil. A generation is completed in about 5-7 weeks.

Nature of damage : Caterpillars feed voraciously on the tender parts of the plant and on

the developing earheads. The damaged ears could be easily spotted in the field by chalky

appearance due to partially eaten grains.


Plough the field after harvest of the crop.

Collection and destruction of larvae.

Spraying with Quinalphos 25 EC @ 1000 ml/ha as incidence is noticed.

*****

25

Exercise No. 3

PESTS OF MAIZE, BAJRA, WHEAT AND MINER MILLETS

PESTS OF MAIZE

Sr. No. Common Name Scientific Name Family Order

1 Shoot fly Atherigona soccata Muscidae Diptera

2 Stem borer Chilo partellus Pyralidae Lepidoptera

3 Armyworm Mythimna separata Noctuidae Lepidoptera

4 Fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda Noctuidae Lepidoptera

5 Cob earworm Helicoverpa armigera Noctuidae Lepidoptera

Shoot fly Atherigona soccata

As described in sorghum.

Stem borer Chilo partellus

As described in sorghum.

Armyworm Mythimna separata

It is one of the major pests of maize in Asia. The term "armyworm" is used because

of their habit to spread out in a line across the field, and slowly "march" forward,

consuming the foliage they encounter.

Marks of identification : The forewings are greyish yellow with a dark-grey or reddish-

yellow tinge. Round and reniform spots are light or yellowish with indistinct edges,

whereas reniform spot with white point at lower margin. External wing margin blackened

obliquely from top backward, with dark stroke and with a row of dark points. Hindwings

are grey, with dark external margin. Larva has two wide black-brown and one intermediate

light dorsal stripe, with black-brown lateral stripe along spiracle line.

Host range : Maize, sorghum, rice etc.

Biology : A female lays eggs on leaves on an average of 996 eggs after a pre-oviposition

period of 2-5 days. Oviposition continues for 2-7 days after emergence. Egg incubation is 4-

5 days. The larval period is about 20 days. Prepupal and pupal periods last for 1-2 and 8-12

days, respectively. The entire post-embryonic development was completed in 29-39 days.

Nature of damage : Caterpillars feed on leaves. Complete defoliation occurs in severe case.

Caterpillars march like an army to neighbouring fields and hence the name army worms.


26

Hand collection and destruction of egg masses and caterpillars in early stage of

infestation.

Deep ploughing of the infested fields after the harvest of the crop.

The measures should be taken on campaign basis be undertaken.

Spray Cypermethrin 10 EC @ 550 ml in 500 lit. water.

Fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda

Fall armyworm native to America is one of the important invasive polyphagous

pests. It occurs in several countries such as Brazil, Argentina, USA. In 2016 and 2017, it was

reported in African countries. In 2018, fall armyworm noticed in India.

Marks of identification : Forewing of male is shaded with gray and brown, with triangular

white patch at the apical region and circular spot at the center of the wing. The forewings of

female are uniform grayish brown to a fine mottling of gray and brown. The hind wings are

silver-white with a narrow dark boarder in both male and female. Eggs are dorso-ventrally

flattened, pale green to yellowish in colour. Full grown caterpillars are brownish black and

had three dorsal lines and alight lateral lines. Black tubercles are found dorsally on the

body which bears spines. The frons has a white inverted ‘Y’ line. Pupa is light brown in

colour.

Host range : It is most commonly recorded from wild and cultivated grasses; from maize,

rice, sorghum and sugarcane. It also damages to vegetable crops, cotton and soybean.

Biology : Female lays eggs in clusters on under or upper surface of leaves, base of the plant

and also in whorls. Eggs are covered with scales. Incubation period is 2-3 days. Each larva

passes through six instars for a period of 14019 days. Puapation takes place in soil. Pupal

period is 9-12 days. Adult survives for 7-12 days. The total life cycle is completed in 32-46

days.

Nature of damage : Larvae cause damage by consuming foliage. Young larvae initially

consume leaf tissue from one side, leaving the opposite epidermal layer intact. By the

second or third instar, larvae begin to make holes in leaves, and eat from the edge of the

leaves inward. Feeding in the whorl of corn often produces a characteristic row of

perforations in the leaves. Older larvae cause extensive defoliation, often leaving only the

ribs and stalks of corn plants, or a ragged, torn appearance. Larva sometimes burrows into

the ear, feeds on kernels.


Deep ploughing which exposes pupae due to heat and predatory birds.

Follow clean cultivation. Destroy crop residue after harvesting of crop.

Follow crop rotation. Do not take maize or sorghum in same field.

Avoid staggered sowing.

Seed treatment with Cyantraniliprole 19.8 % + Thiamethoxam 19.8 % EC @ 4 ml /

Kg seed.

27

Intercropping with pulse crops like pigeonpea.

Monitoring by installation of pheromone traps @ 2 traps / acre.

Hand collection and destruction of egg masses and early instar gregarious larvae.

Release of Trichogramma sp. @ 1 lakh/ha three times at 15 days interval.

Spraying of Metarhizium anisopliae or Nomureya relyi @ 40 g or Bacillus

thuringiensis powder 20 g or entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) Heterorhabditis

indica 75 g /10 lit. water.

Spraying of 5 % Neem Seed Extract or Azadirachtin 10000 ppm @ 20 ml or

Azadirachtin 1500 ppm @ 50 ml / 10 lit. water.

Spraying with Thiamethoxam 12.6 % + Lamda-cyhalothrin 9.5 % ZC @ 2.5 ml or

Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 4 ml or Spinotorum 11.7% SC @ 9 ml/ 10 lit. water.

Corn earworm Helicoverpa armigera

Marks of identification : Eggs are spherical in shape and creamy white in colour, laid

singly. Larva shows colour variation from greenish to brown. It has dark brown grey lines

on the body with lateral white lines. Pupa is rown in colour, occurs in soil, leaf, pod and

crop debris. Light pale brownish yellow stout moth. Fore wings of adult is olive green to

pale brown with a dark brown circular spot in the centre. Hind wings are pale smoky white

with a broad blackish outer margin.

Host range : Polyphagous

Biology : Eggs are laid singly on tender part of the plant. Incubation period is 3-4 days.

Larval period is 3-4 weeks. Pupation takes place in soil, pupal period 6-12 days. Carryover

pest hibernate in pupal stage in soil. A generation is completed in about 5-7 weeks.

Nature of damage : Larva feeds on silk and developing grains.


Deep ploughing in summer.

Use marigold as trap crop.

Set up sex pheromone traps at 12/ha.

Collection and destruction of larvae.

Spray HaNPV and 5% NSKE.

PESTS OF BAJRA



2 Blister beetle Zonabris pustulata Meloidae Coleoptera

28

Shoot fly Atherigona soccata As described in sorghum. Blister beetle Zonabris pustulata Marks of identification : The adults are large beetles, 25-35 mm long, with a bright

conspicuous red or yellow and black patterned coloration. They are rather sluggish in

behaviour but are strong fliers. It handled, adults exude an acrid yellow fluid containing

cantharidin which cuases blisters on skin.

Host range : Bajara, pulses, okra, cotton etc.

Biology : Eggs are laid in soil in batches (2000). Eggs hatch into active triungulin larvae

which feed on egg pods of grasshoppers. The later larval stages are often sluggish with a

large body and reduced legs. An abundance of meloid beetles has often been noted

following locust invasion.

Nature of damage : Adult beetles feed on flowers.


Hand collection and destruction of beetles.

PESTS OF WHEAT


1 Wheat stem borer Sesamia inferens Noctuidae Lepidoptera

2 Aphid Rhopalosiphum maidis Aphididae Hemiptera

3 Termite Odontotermes obesus Termitidae Isoptera

Wheat stem borer (Pink borer) (Sesamia inferens)

The pest is of common occurrence in wheat growing states.

Marks of identification : Caterpillar is about 25 mm long, flesh coloured (pinkish),

smooth with dark spots on the slender body with red head capsule. Moths are small and

straw coloured, forewings with marginal dark line and hind wings are pale white. Wing

expanse is about 25-30 mm.

Host range : Wheat, maize and sugarcane.

Biology : Creamy white eggs are laid in clusters (upto 100 eggs) inside the leaf sheath.

They hatch in 4 to 9 days. Newly hatched larvae disperse to the neighbouring plants and

bore into the stem; they become full grown in 3 to 4 weeks. Pupation takes place inside the

bored stem. The adults emerge out after 5 to 12 days. The total life cycle is completed in 6

to 7 weeks. Pest hibernates in larval stage in stubbles.

29

Nature of damage : The young larva after hatching from the egg, bores into the stem,

causing death of the central shoot, commonly known as “dead heart”. If the incidence of the

pest is noticed in flowering stage, the white ear-heads are formed.


As the pest is an internal feeder, preventive measures like removal of tillers having

dead hearts and destruction of the larva.

Removal of stubbles after the harvest of the crop and their destruction may help to

minimize the pest infestation.

Chemical Control : Spraying of Dichlorvas 76 EC @ 625 ml or Quinalphos 25 EC @

1600 ml/ha, immediately after the incidence noticed or first application at flag leaf

stage.

Aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis)

This pest is already dealt under pests of jowar.


Spraying of Acetamiprid 20 SP @ 50 g or Thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 50 g or

Dimethoate 30 EC @ 500 ml or Oxydemeton-methyl 25 EC @ 400 ml/ha.

Termites or White ants Odontotermes obesus

Termites are polyphagous insects, reported from many parts of Maharashtra. The

infestation of termites is more in sandy loam soils. They inflict more serious damage in the

unirrigated areas.

Marks of identification : These are social insects living in a colony. Polymorphic forms

are noticed.

A) Reproductive caste (winged) : They live in royal chambers.

Queen : Develops from fertilized eggs. It is much larger in size and has creamy

white abdomen which is marked with transvere dark brown stripes. It lives for 5-10

years and lays thousands of eggs.

King : Develops from unfertilized eggs. It is much smaller than queen and slightly

bigger than workers. It is secondarily wingless insect.

B) Sterile caste (wingless) :

Workers : Develop from fertilized eggs. They are whitish yellow. Head wider than

reproductive castes. Mandibles are stronger, meant for feeding on. They avoid

light and need high humidity for their survival.

30

Soldiers : Develop from unfertilized eggs. They have large head and strongly

chitinized sickle shaped mandibles, defend the colony by fighting. Mandibulate

type soldiers.

Host range : Termites are polyphagous feeding on crops like wheat, sugarcane, groundnut,

cotton, chillies, brinjal, fruit trees etc.

Biology : Soon after, first monsoon showers, the sexual forms leave their colony for nuptial

flight during evening. After a short flight mating takes place, they shed their wings and the

queen and king settle down in the soil. The female burrows in the soil, lay eggs and

establish new colony. The queen gradually grows in size and starts egg laying very rapidly

at the rate of one egg per second or 70,000 to 80,000 eggs in 24 hours. It lives for 5 – 10

years. It can live for several years also. There is only one queen in a colony. Incubation

period is one week in summer and within 6 months larvae develop to form soldiers or

workers. The reproductive castes when produced mature in 1-2 years.

Nature of damage : Worker termites feed on the roots and stem parts of the plants. This

results in drying of the plants. Other forms do not cause any direct damage to the crop.


Locate termitoria (mounds) and destroy queen by digging out termitoria or

fumigating with fumigants like CS2 or CS2 + Chloroform mixture @ 250 ml/mould.

Termite damage in standing crop can be minimized by application of 5 litres of

Chlorpyriphos 20 EC/ha into irrigation water or field spreading of 1 litre of lindane

mixed with sand or soil, followed by light irrigation.

Keep the crop healthy and vigorous. Shortage of water leading to initial drying of

the plant, may lead to termite infestation. Hence, it is very necessary to keep the

crop healthy and vigorous.

PESTS OF MINOR MILLETS



2 Wheat / ragi / pink

stem borer

Sesamia inferens Noctuidae Lepidoptera

3 Spotted stem borer Chilo partellus Pyralidae Lepidoptera

4 White stem borer Saluria inficita Noctuidae Lepidoptera

5 Leaf / Plum/ Ragi

aphid

Hysteroneura

setariae

Aphididae Hemiptera

6 Ragi root aphid Tetraneura

nigriabdominalis

Pemphigidae Hemiptera

White stem borer Saluria inficita

31

It was specific pest on ragi in South India and rarely infests navane (Sateria italica)

and Rice (Oryza sativa). This pest in found in all ragi growing states of India. Predominantly

noticed in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.

Marks of identification : Adult is a medium sized dark brown moth with a pale white band

along the costal margin of each forewing. The hind wings are white in colour. The

caterpillar is creamy-white in colour.

Host range : Ragi

Biology : The female white stem borer lays the eggs near the tip of the leaf blade. The

female lays eggs in batches of about 100 and are covered with silky greyish hairs; they

resemble the eggs of the yellow stem borer. The incubation period is about 8 days. The

larvae pupate in the stem.

Nature of damage : The caterpillar attacks the base of the tillers close to soil causing

deadhearts. Oozing of the excreta from the bored hole is very conspicuous in the infested

plants.


As described in wheat / pink stem borer.

Leaf or Shoot aphid Hysteroneura setariae

It was reported for the first time in India on rice, sorghum, Italian millet and other

crops in Madras. It has been recorded in Madras, Tambaram, Tindivanum, Coimbatore,

Madurai, Bangalore, Ananthapur and Coonoor

Marks of identification : Leaf aphids are also called rusty plum aphid, as the name

suggests is a brown, small aphid with dark cornicles.

Host range : Ragi leaf aphid is known to attack all graminaceous plants and other grasses

Nature of damage : Adult and nymphs of aphids suck the sap of the plant from the base of

the spicklets, and spread to the entire plant. Resulting in reduced vigour of the plant and

stunted growth, generally infestation starts from the border row and spreads. The

infestation is alarming when appears on crop of less than a month old. The occurrence is

during the months of August and September. When the crop is caught in dry spell,

infestation continues throughout the crop growth stage. In severely infested plants even

the earheads are fully covered by aphids.

Root aphid Tetraneura nigriabdominalisi

Biology : The aphids are pinkish and globular. It reproduces viviparously. They have 4

nymphal instars with a total nymphal duration of 7-9 days. Adult lives for 5-11 days and

produces 10-35 off springs.

32

Nature of damage : Aphid remains at the base of the plant and suck the sap. The infested

plants turn pale yellow and become stunted. Wilting and drying of plants in patches is the

typical symptom. Black ants attend them for honeydew and their presence confirm the

root aphid attack. It occurs on many grasses too.


Spraying the base of attacked plants with a contact or systemic insecticides controls the

aphid.

33

Exercise No. 4

PESTS OF PIGEONPEA

Pulses, the food legumes, have been grown by farmers since millennia providing

nutritionally balanced food to the people of India (Nene, 2006) and many other countries in

the world. The major pulse crops that have been domesticated and are under cultivation

include black gram, chickpea, cowpea, faba bean, grass pea, green gram, horse gram, lablab

bean, lentil, moth bean, pea and pigeon pea.


1 Pod borer Helicoverpa armigera Noctuidae Lepidoptera

2 Tur plume moth Exelastis atomosa Pterophoridae Lepidoptera

3 Tur pod fly Melanagromyza obtusa Agromyzidae Diptera

4 Spotted pod borer Maruca testulalis Pyraustidae Lepidoptera

5 Leaf webber Grapholita critica Tortricidae Lepidoptera

6 Mite Aceria cajani Eryophyidae Acarina

Pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera)

As described in gram.

Tur pod caterpillar (Tur plume moth) (Exelastis atomosa)

Marks of identification : The moths are slender, about 12 mm long and are grey with long

narrow wings. The fore wings are divided into two parts and the hind wings are cut into

three parts and provided with fringed border. The full grown caterpillars are about 12 mm

long greenish brown in colour, covered with short hairs and spines.

Host range : Tur and wal.

Biology : A female lays 17-19 minute eggs on the tender shoots, leaves, flowers or pods and

they hatch in about 5 days. On hatching the caterpillars first scrape the surface of pods and

gradually cut holes and thrust their heads into the pods and feed on seeds. They become

full grown in about 4 weeks and pupate on the surface of the pods. The pupal period lasts

for 2 weeks. The total life cycle is completed in about 7 weeks.

Nature of damage : The caterpillar cuts hole in pod, insert the head and feed from outside

on developing seed.

Tur pod fly (Melanagromyza obtusa)

This pest is widely distributed throughout India causing 80 % loss in yield of seed..

34

Marks of identification : Adult flies are blessy black in colour and measure 2.75 mm in

length. Full grown larva is creamy white, measuring 3.5 to 4 mm in length.

Host range : Various leguminous crops (Tur, soybean and cowpea).

Host range : Various leguminous crops (Tur, soybean and cowpea).

Biology : The female fly lays about 79 eggs into tender pods. Eggs hatch in 3-8 days.

Maggots feed on grains for 10-18 days and pupate in the same pod. The pupal period is 4-9

days. The total life cycle is completed in 3-4 weeks.

Nature of damage : The young maggots after hatching enter soft seeds and feed on them.

At first the damage resembles that of leaf miner as their galleries run just under the

epidermis of seed. Later they burrow deep down resulting in decaying of the grains which

become unfit for either consumption or germination. In advanced cases of damage, the pod

shows a twisted appearance

Spotted pod borer (Maruca testulalis)

It is a sporadic pest and damages the pods.

Marks of identification : Full grown caterpillars are on an average 20 mm long, light

brown in colour with irregular brownish black dorsal, lateral and ventral spots. The adult

moth has brown forewings with three white spots and the hind wings greyish-white with

distal brown markings.

Host range : Castor, groundnut, paddy and tobacco.

Biology : Eggs are laid singly on or near flower buds. On hatching the young caterpillars

feed on reproductive parts of flowers and move from one flower to another full grown

caterpillars are on an average 20 mm long. Pupation takes place inside coccon on the pods

or within the leaf folds.

Nature of damage : The caterpillars feed on tender leaves, flowers, buds and pods. The

caterpillars web the flowers together with fine, silken thread, live inside and feed on the

floral parts. Lateron they bore into tender pods and feed on developing seeds.

Management practices of pod borer complex : (Pod borer, plume moth, pod fly and

spotted pod borer).

Cultural and mechanical practices :

Ploughing the field after harvest of crop to destroy the pupae.

Intercropping with jowar, bajra, maize or soybean.

Follow crop rotation.

Destroy alternate host plants of pests or weeds.

Hand picking of caterpillars during initial stages of attack.

Use of pheromone traps @ 4-5 traps/ha.

Install bird perches @ 50/ha.

35

Biological control :

Spray NSKE 5% or Azadirachtin 0.03 WSV (300 ppm) @ 2500 ml or Bacillus

thuringiensis 5 % @ 1 Kg/ha.

HaNPV be applied to suppress the attack of H. armigera when 50 % flower buds are

noticed and next spray of any insecticide.

Chemical control :

Apply any one of the recommended insecticides commencing the first application at

bud formation stage. Recommended insecticides are Quinalphos 25 EC @ 1400ml

or Monocrotophos 36 SL @ 1250 ml or Spinosad 45 SC @ 125 ml or Emamectin

benzoate 5 SG @ 220 g or Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 150 ml or Indoxacarb 14.5

SC @ 400 ml or Benfuracarb 40 EC @ 2500 ml or Indoxacarb 18.5 EC @ 330 ml or

Lamda cyhalothrin 5 EC @ 500 ml or Lufenuron 5.4 EC @ 600 ml or Methomyl 40 SP

@ 750 g or Deltamethrin 1 % + Triazophos 35 % EC @ 1250 ml or Profenophos 40

% + Cypermethrin 4 % EC @ 1250 ml/ha.

When severe tur pod fly attack is noticed, spray Dimethoate 30 EC @ 1250 ml or

Monocrotophos 36 SL @ 625 ml or Lufenuron 5.4 EC @ 600 ml or Lamda

cyhalothrin 5 EC @ 500 ml.

Mite (Aceria cajani)

Nature of damage : Mite feeding causes no direct damage to the host, therefore there are

no distinctive symptoms attributable to it. However, it is a vector of pigeonpea sterility

mosaic virus (PPSMV), which causes mosaic and mottling symptoms on wild and cultivated

pigeonpea leaves (Cajanus cajan), and inhibits flower production.


Use of resistant varieties such as BSMR 736, BSMR 853.

Spraying of Dicofol can reduce the infestation.

36

Exercise No. 5

PESTS OF CHICKPEA, MUNG BEAN, URD BEAN, COWPEA AND PEA

PESTS OF CHICKPEA



2 Aphid Aphis craccivora Aphididae Hemiptera

3 Cutworm Agrotis ipsilon Noctuidae Lepidoptera

Gram pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera)

It is a polyphagous and cosmopolitan pest, widely distributed in India. It is serious

pest of gram and tur crops.

Marks of identification : The moths are stout, light yellowish – brown with a wing

expanse of about 37mm. The forewings are pale brown with some black dots and the hind

wings are lighter in colour with smoky dark margins. The caterpillars are greenish with

darker broken grey line along the sides of the body. They are 37 to 50 mm in length, when

full grown.

Host range : Besides, gram it infests cotton, tomato, peas, tobacco, safflower, jowar, maize

etc.

Biology : The females lay shining greenish whitish yellow eggs, spherical in shape, singly

on the tender parts of the plants or flower buds. A single female may lay as many as 700

eggs in 4 days. The eggs hatch in about 6 to 7 days. On hatching, the caterpillars start

feeding on tender leaves and shoots and after pod formation begins, they bore into the pod

and eat developing grains and become full grown in 14 to 15 days and descend to the

ground and pupate in earthen cocoons in the soil near the plants. Their pupal period lasts

from one week to a month. The pest is active from November to March. There may be as

many as 8 generations in a year on different crops.

Nature of damage : The caterpillars feed on tender foliage and young pods. They make

holes in the pods and eat the developing seed by inserting the anterior portion of their

body inside the pods. Single larva is capable of damaging many pods. Thus, heavy losses in

yields are incurred under heavy infestation level.


Cultural and mechanical practices :

Ploughing the field after harvest of crop to destroy the pupae.

Intercropping with coriander, mustard, linseed or safflower.

Follow crop rotation. Take jowar, bajra, maize or groundnut after gram.

Destroy alternate host plants of pod borer or weeds.

37

Hand picking of caterpillars during initial stages of attack.

Use of pheromone traps @ 4-5 traps/ha.

Install bird perches @ 50/ha.


Spray NSKE 5% or Azadirachtin 0.03 WSV (300 ppm) @ 2500 ml or Beauveria

bassiana 1 % WP @ 3 Kg/ha.

Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus of Helicoverpa armingera (HaNPV) @ 250 LE/ha be

applied instead of insecticidal application in alternation with insecticide.

Chemical control :

Application of Quinalphos 25 EC @ 1000 ml or Monocrotophos 36 SL @ 1250 ml or

Emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 220 g or Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC 125 ml or

Novaluron 10 EC @ 750 ml or Triazophos 35 % + Deltamethrin 1 % EC @ 1250 ml

at 50% flowering stage or as soon as pest incidence is noticed.

If necessary second spraying should be undertaken 15 days after the first

application.

Aphid Aphis craccivora

Marks of identification : The adults are black and shiny, up to 2 mm long and some are

winged. The nymphs are similar to the adults but smaller.

Host range : Polyphagous

Biology : This species can reproduce without mating in Asia creating one generation in a

week under optimum conditions. Individual adults can produce about 100 nymphs over a

lifespan of up to 30 days. When the population density in the colony reaches a certain limit,

winged individuals are found among the wingless forms. They fly away to form new

colonies.

Nature of damage : Nymphs and adults suck sap from the tender growing shoots. They

secrete a sticky fluid (honeydew) on the plant, which turns black by fungal infection.

Although the feeding activity of aphid colonies can retard plant growth particularly at

seedling stage, infestation on young seedlings results in twisted shoots under heavy

infestation. Seedlings may wilt, particularly under moisture-stressed conditions. However,

a more notable issue in chickpea is the transmission of stunt disease, caused by the bean

leaf roll virus transmitted by these aphids. Stunt disease limits plant growth, rendering

leaflets small, and reddish brown.

Cutworm Agrotis ipsilon

It is a cosmopolitan pest, reported to occur throughout the country. It is serious in

low lying areas which remain water logged for considerable time during the year. It causes

severe damage in seedling stage. The damage to the crop varies from 12-35%.

38

Marks of identification : Moths are medium sized, stout with greyish brown wavy lines

and spots on fore wings. The moths are active at dusk and are attracted by light. Caterpillar

is 4-5 cm long, dirty black in colour and have habit of coiling at slightest touch.

Host range : Polyphagous feeding on potato, pulses, barley, oat, tobacco, peas, gram,

cotton, tomato, lucerne, chillies, brinjal and other vegetables.

Biology : About 300-350 eggs are laid in clusters laid on ventral leaf surface or moist soil.

These eggs hatch in 4-5 days. Larva developes in 3-5 weeks. Pupation takes place in soil in

earthen cocoons. Pupal period is 11-18 days. Life cycle is completed in 5-9 weeks. It is cool

climate pest active from October.

Nature of damage : The caterpillars hide during the day in cracks and crevices in soil or in

debris around the plants and feed on tender leaves during night by cutting seedlings near

ground level. The destruction is much more than actual feeding.


Heaps of green grasses may be kept at suitable interval in infested fields during

evening and collected next day early in the morning along with caterpillars and

destroyed.

Clean cultivation and mechanical destruction of caterpillars also help in reducing

pest infestation.

5% carbaryl poison bait @ 25-60 kg/ha controls the pest effectively (1 kg carbaryl

50WP +10 kg wheat bran + 1 kg jaggery and sufficient water).

39

PESTS OF MUNG BEAN AND URD BEAN



2 Leaf eating

caterpillar

3 Semilooper


PESTS OF COWPEA AND PEA



2 Blue butterfly Lampides boeticus Lycaenidae Lepidoptera


40

Exercise No. 6

Pests of Groundnut


1 Leaf miner Aproaerema modicella Gelechidae Lepidoptera

2 Hairy caterpillar Amsacta moori,

Spilosoma obliqua

Arctiidae Lepidoptera

3 Tobacco leaf

eating caterpillar

Spodoptera litura Noctuidae Lepidoptera


5 Thrips Thrips tabaci Thripidae Thysanopte

ra

6 White grub Holotrichia serrata Scarabaeidae Coleoptera

7 Pod sucking bug Aphanus sordidus Lygaeidae Hemiptera

41

Exercise No. 7

Pests of Castor and Sunflower

Pests of Castor


1 Castor semilooper Achoea janata Noctuidae Lepidoptera

2 Castor capsule

borer

Dichocrosis

punnctiferalis

Crambidae Lepidoptera

3 Tobacco leaf

eating caterpillar


4 Castor jassid Empoasca

distinguenda


Pests of Sunflower


1 Capitulum borer /

Gram pod borer


2 Hairy caterpillar Spilosoma obliqua Arctiidae Lepidoptera

3 Jassid Empoasca devastens Cicadellidae Hemiptera

4 Thrips Thripos tabaci Thripidae Thysanopte

ra

5 Whitefly Bemisia tabaci Aleurodidae Hemiptera

6 Stem borer Nupserha bicolor Cerambicidae Coleoptera

42

Exercise No. 8

Pests of Safflower, Mustard, Linseed

Pests of Safflower


1 Aphid Ureleucon compositae

(=Dactynotus

carthami)

Aphididae Hemiptera

2 Capitulum borer /

Gram pod borer


3 Gujhia weevil Tanymecus indicus Curculionidae Coleoptera

Pests of Mustard


1 Mustard aphid Lypaphis erysimi Aphididae Hemiptera

2 Mustard sawfly Athalia proxima

(lugens)

Tenthredinida

e

Hymenopte

ra

3 Leaf webber Crocidolomia binotalis Pyraustidae Lepidoptera

Pests of Mustard


1 Gall fly Dasineura lini Cecidomiidae Diptera

43

Exercise No. 9

Pests of Soybean, Sesamum and Niger

Pests of Soybean


1 Stem fly Melanagromyza sojae Agromyzidae Diptera

2 Girdle beetle Obereopsis brevis Cerambycidae Coleoptera

3 Leaf miner Aproaerema modicella Gelechidae Lepidoptera

4 Tobacco leaf

eating caterpillar


5 Semilooper Gesonia gema Noctuidae Lepidoptera

6 Gram pod borer Helicoverpa armigera Noctuidae Lepidoptera


Pests of Sesamum


1 Til hawk moth Acherontia styx Sphingidae Lepidoptera

2 Gall fly Asphondylla sesami Cecidomyidae Diptera

3 Leaf webber Antigastra

catalaunalis


Pests of Niger


1 Semilooper

2 Gram pod borer Helicoverpa armigera Noctuidae Lepidoptera

44

Exercise No. 10 & 11

Pests of Cotton, Sunhemp and Mesta

Pests of Cotton


A Sucking pests

1 Aphid Aphis gossypii Aphididae Hemiptera

2 Jassid Amrasca biguttula

biguttula


3 Thrips Thrips tabaci Thripidae Thysanopte

ra


5 Mealybug Phenacoccus

solenopsis

Pseudococcida

e

Hemiptera

B Bollworms

6 Spotted bollworm Earias vittella, Earias

insulana

Noctuidae Lepidoptera

7 American

bollworm


8 Pink bollworm Pectinophora

gossypiella

Gelechidae Lepidoptera

c Chewing pests

9 Cotton leaf roller Sylepta derogata Pyralidae Lepidoptera

10 Cotton green

semilooper

Anomis flava Noctuidae Lepidoptera

11 Grey weevil Myllocerus spp. Curculionidae Coleoptera

D Lint strainers

12 Red cotton bug Dysdercus cingulatus Pyrrhocoridae Hemiptera

13 Dusky cotton bug Oxycaranus

hyalinipennis

Lygaediae Hemiptera

Aphid (Aphis gossypii)

This pest is distributed all over the country. A. gossypii is small, adaptable, easily

spread, with a rapid reproductive rate, and the ability to cause serious plant injury in

isolated communities.

Marks of identification : Aphids are small soft bodied insects with a pair of cornicles,

present on the 6th abdominal segment. Nymphs are light yellowish green, or greenish black

45

or brownish. Adults are mostly wingless, but few winged forms can also be seen with thin

transparent wings.

Host range : The cotton aphid has a very wide host range of at least 60 host plants

including various field and vegetable crops.

Biology : Females directly produce young ones which mature in about a week, hence

population build up is quite fast. Alate and apterous forms multiply parthenogenetically

and viviparously and give birth to 8 –22/ day and become adult in 4-7 days. The nymphs

moult four times to become adult completing the life cycle in 8-10 days.

Nature of damage : Nymphs and adults colonize on the undersurface of the young leaves

or on shoots. Leaves become curled and plant growth is affected. Besides sucking the sap

from plant they secrete honey dew on which sooty mold develops causing interference to

photosynthesis.

Cotton jassids (Amrasca biguttula biguttula)

It is a cosmopolitan and polyphagous species, distributed widely in all the cotton

growing areas of the State.

Marks of identification : The adult is a wedge shaped insect, about 3.5 mm long and pale

green in colour. There is a black spot on each of the fore wings and spots on the vertex. The

insect is characterized by its habit of walking diagonal in relation to body.

Host range : It is polyphagous species infesting cotton, bhendi, ambadi, potato, brinjal etc.

Biology : Female lays about 30 eggs singly inside the leaf veins, which hatch in 4 to 11 days.

Nymhal stage lasts for 7 to 21 days with six nymphal instars. The entire life cycle is

completed in 2 to 4 weeks. There are several overlapping generations in a year. The pest is

more severe in July to September.

Nature of damage : Both nymphs and adults suck the cell sap mostly from the underside of

the leaves. As a result, a characteristic hopper burn symptom is noticed wherein the

margins turn yellowish initially and subsequently turn reddish and curl. In cases of heavy

infestation, the leaves show brown necrotic patches and the growth of the plants remain

stunted which adversely affects the flowering and ultimately yield.

Thrips (Thrips tabaci)

It is a cosmopolitan and polyphagous species distributed all over the State.

Marks of identification : The adults are minute delicate insects about 1 mm in length and

are light yellow in colour. Their body is narrowed in the middle. Their wings are fringed

with hairs, hence called as fringe winged insects. The nymphs and even adults are seen

walking fast, when observed under magnifying lens

Host range : Cotton, chilly, cucurbits etc.

Biology : The eggs are laid in the tissues on the lower surface of leaves. A female lays

about 30-50 eggs. These eggs hatch in about 2 to 5 days. Nymphs become full grown in

46

about a week, after moulting thrice. The adult lives for 10 to 25 days. There are 3-4

generations in a year.

Nature of damage : The thrips have rasping and sucking type of mouth parts suited for

scraping the epidermal tissues of the leaves and sucking the oozing cell sap. As a result of

such feeding brown patches are seen of the leaves and also on bolls. Excessive feeding on

leaves leads to curling and the growth on the plant is stunted. The pest is active in post

monsoon periods.

Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)

This is a minor pest earlier but after 1985 became major pest in many crops.

Marks of identification : Eggs are yellowish white laid singly on the under surface of

leaves. Nymph is greenish yellow, oval in outline. Pupa is oval in shape, present on the

under surface of the leaves. Adult is minute insect with yellow body covered with a white

waxy bloom.

Host range : It is a polyphagous pest which feed on several crops like cotton, tobacco,

cassava, cabbage, cauliflower, melon, mustard, brinjal etc.

Biology : The female whitefly lays the eggs singly on the under surface of leaves and

mostly on the top and middle crop canopy. A single female lays about 120 eggs. The

incubation period varies from 3-30 days. The nymphs after hatching fix themselves to the

underside of the leaves and they moult thrice before pupation. The nymphal period varies

from 9-19 days. The pupal period is 2-8 days. The total life-cycle ranges from 14 to 107

days depending upon the weather conditions. There are about 12 overlapping generations

in a year.

Nature of damage : Nymphs and adults suck the sap from foliage. Chlorotic spots are

developed on leaves and yellowing of leaf leading to dropping of matured leaves.

Vegetative growth is retarded, boll formation hampered. There is shedding of squares and

bolls, bad boll opening in matured bolls and reduces the quality of cotton. They secrete

honeydew on which sooty mould develops and interfere in the photosynthesis. Severe

infestation after boll bursting makes the lint sticky due to deposition of honeydew. It also

transmits the leaf curl virus.


Use of resistant varieties.

Timely sowing with recommended spacing, preferably wider spacing.

Avoid excess use of nitrogenous fertilizers.

Adopting crop rotation with non-preferred hosts such as sorghum, ragi, maize etc.

Removal and destruction of alternate weed hosts from the fields and neighbouring

areas and maintaining field sanitation.

Use of yellow and blue sticky traps.

47

Seed treatment with Imidacloprid 48 FS or Imidacloprid 70 WS or Thiamethoxam

70 WS @ 5 g or Thiamethoxam 30 FS @ 10 g or Carbosulfan 25 DS @ 60 g / Kg seed.

Soil application of Phorate 10 G @ 10 Kg/ha or drenching Clothianidin 50 WDG @

200 g in 1000 lit. water per ha.

Spray the crop with Acephate 75 SP @ 400 g or Dimethoate 30 EC @ 660 ml or

Oxydemeton-methyl 25 EC @ 1200 ml or Profenophos 50 EC @ 1000 ml or

Acetamiprid 20 SP @ 50 g or Thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 100 g or Clothianidin 50

WDG @ 30 g or Thiacloprid 21.7 SC @ 100 ml or Flonicamid 50 WG @ 100 g or

Imidacloprid 70 WG @ 35 g or Imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 100 ml or Fipronil 5 SC @

1500 ml or Buprofezin 25 SC @ 1000 ml or Difenthiuron 50 WP @ 600 g or Lamda

cyhalothrin 2.5 EC @ 750 ml or Lamda cyhalothrin 5 EC @ 375 ml or Fluvalinate 25

EC @ 200 ml or Cypermethrin 25 EC @ 200 ml or Malathion 50 EC @ 1000 ml or

Monocrotophos 36 SL @ 435 ml/ha in 500 lit. water. Spraying can be reperated at

fortnightly interval if needed.

Mealybug (Phenacoceus solenopsis)

Mealybug considered as a emerging pest of cotton and becoming a new threat for

future cotton production.

Marks of identification : Mealybug (P. solenopsis) has elongated oval body and greenish

black colour. There are medium sized filaments around the body and two dark stripes on

either side of the middle ridge of the body. They are having waxy coating on the body.

Host range : Cotton, soybean, okra, tomato, brinjal and different weeds.

Biology : Reproduction is sexual and parthenogenetic, female lays eggs without

fertilization. In an ovisac which is on the underside of the body, about 200-600 eggs are

observed. The young mealy bugs called “crawlers” (nymphs) and emerge from the egg

within 3 to 9 days. Nymphal period is about 22-25 days. The pest completes its life cycle

within 25-30 days and there are 10-12 generations in a year.

Nature of damage : Both the nymphs and adults suck the cell sap from the leaves, stem

and other parts of the plants. The entire plant may be stunted and the shoot tips develop a

bushy appearance. The pest also secretes honey dew which encourages the development

of black sooty mould, affecting photosynthetic activity. The severe infestation causes late

opening of bolls, which ultimately affects the yield and quality of cotton.


Deep ploughing of the field in summer.

Alternate host plants like parthenium grass and other weed plants around field

should be removed.

Destroy the ant colonies during land preparation because ants act as a carrier for

spread of mealy bugs.

Proper crop rotation should be followed.

Insecticides treated seeds should be used.

48

Release Chrysopa and coccinellid beetles which are active predators of mealybugs.

Conserve the parasitoids viz. Anaecius bambawali, Promuesidae sp., Anagyrus sp.

Young crawlers are not covered by waxy coating so they are most susceptible to

plant protection measures.

Use biopesticides like Metarrhizium anisopliae or Verticillium lecanii @ 4 g/lit of

water.

Need based application of Acephate 75 SP @ 1500 g or Triazophos 40 EC @ 1000 ml

or Dimethoate 30 EC @ 1650 ml or Oxydemeton-methyl 25 EC @ 2000 ml or

Clothianidin 50 WG @ 150 g or Buprofezin 25 SC @ 1000 ml or Dichlorvas 76 EC @

1000 ml or Fenpropathrin 25 EC @ 500 ml/ha in 500 lit. water. Repeat the foliar

application after one week of first spray.

Regular monitoring of field should be done and spot treatment should be given so as

to avoid further spread of mealybugs from infested plants. Spot application of

insecticides help in conservation of coccinellid beetles, wasps etc, which are

important.

Spotted bollworm (Earias vittella, Earias insulana)

This is a cosmopolitan pest, having been reported from all the cotton growing areas

of the state.

Marks of identification : There are two species of spotted bollworm. The adults of one

species have pale white upper wings with a broad greenish band in the middle (E. vitella)

The adult of another species have completely green upper wings (E. insulana) Wing

expanse is about 25 to 30 mm. The caterpillars of both the species are brownish white and

have a dark head and a prothoracic shield. Their main characteristic is that their body

surface is irregularly covered with black spots (E.vitella) and spins (E. insulana). A full

grown larva measures 19mm in length.

Host range : Besides cotton, the pest infests bhendi, ambadi, hollyhock etc.

Biology : The female lays about 200-400 bluish eggs singly on tender shoots, flower buds,

bracts, bolls etc. The egg period is 2 to 10 days. The larval period varies from 9 to 25 days

depending on the climate. The full fed larvae pupate in a silken cocoon in the soil, in this

stage it remains for 6 to 25 days. The total period of life cycle is about 18 to 46 days. The

pest is active practically throughout the year and there are about 7 to 8 generations in a

year. Summer bhendi is an important source of ‘carry over’ of the pest from one season to

another.

Nature of damage : In the beginning of the cotton season, the caterpillars bore into the

growing shoot of the young plants (generally 6 week old) and cause curling of the attacked

shoot. When flower buds appear, the larvae are found boring into them which results in

the heavy shedding of early formed floral buds. Later they also bore in bolls, which show

holes plugged with excreta. The infested bolls are mostly shed. But if they remain on the

49

plant, they open prematurely; consequently lint from such bolls fetches a low price in the

market.

American bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera)

It is serious pest of cotton in India. It is also popularly known as “gram-pod borer”.

It is a cosmopolitan and polyphagous pest attacking wide range of crops throughout the

year.

Marks of identification : The adults are stout, light yellowish brown, with a wing expanse

of 37mm. The forewings are pale brown with some black dots and the hind wings are

lighter in colour with smoky dark margins. The caterpillars are greenish with dark grey

lines along the sides of body. They are 30-35 mm in length, when full grown.

Host range : Besides cotton, it feed on gram, tomato, peas, tur, tobacco, jowar, maize.

Biology : The eggs are laid singly on the tender parts of the plants and they hatch in about

3 to 7 days. A female lays about 300-600 eggs. The caterpillars become full fed in 14 to 15

days and descend to the ground and pupate in earthen cocoons in the soil. The pupal

period lasts for one week to a month. There may be as many as 8 generations in a year on

different crops.

Nature of damage : This pest causes substantial damage to cotton crop. The newly

hatched larvae usually feed on tender leaves and squares of the plant. The larvae make

holes in bolls and consume the entire contents inside the bolls. A single larva can destroy 9

to 15 squares and bolls. The excreta of the larvae is noticed on the bracts.

Pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella)

Economic importance : It is the most destructive pest of cotton, having reported from

almost all the countries in the world. In Maharashtra also it is noticed in all the areas

wherever, the cotton crop is grown. The larvae are pinkish in colour and hence the name.

Marks of identification : The moth is small sized, about 5 to 6 mm in length and a wing

span of 12.5 mm. Body is dark brown in colour with numerous small spots on the wings.

The caterpillar is pinkish in colour when full grown and it measures about 18 to 19 mm in

length. The pupa is brownish and measures about 7 mm in length.

Host plants : Besides cotton, this pest also feeds on bhendi, ambadi and hollyhock.

Biology : A single female lays about 100 to 150 eggs on the under surface of leaves, floral

buds, bracts and bolls. They hatch within 3 to 25 days, depending upon the climatic

conditions. The newly hatched caterpillar is whitish in colour and wanders for some time in

search of buds or bolls. On entering the bolls, the entry hole gets sealed and caterpillar

leads a concealed life. It becomes full grown in 8 to 21 days. It attains characteristic pink

colour in the third instar. They moult thrice. The larva then pupates by spinning a cocoon

on bracts or in fallen leaves, flowers, lint under clods or in soil. The pupal stage lasts for 6

to 20 days. This is termed as short cycle generation.

50

While in case of long cycle generation the full grown larvae without under going

pupation remains in the hibernating stage even upto two years. Carry-over through seed in

the form of hibernating larvae is quite negligible in our state, while majority of them

hibernate in cocoons amongst the shed bolls, plant debris or in cracks in the soil. As many

as 9 generations are completed in a year.

Nature of damage : Unlike the spotted bollworms, the pink bollworm never attacks the

shoots but effect floral buds, flowers and bolls only. In the beginning of the season, the

caterpillars feed on floral buds, flowers and cause their shedding. Later on they enter the

developing boll through the tip portion and entrance hole gets closed up as the boll

matures and it becomes extremely difficult to locate the infested bolls unless they drop

down to the ground.

The larva feeds on the inner contents (particularly seeds) and moves to adjacent

locule by making a hole through the septum. As a result of infestation of this pest, ginning

percentage, oil and spinning qualities are adversely affected.

Management Practices for bollworms of cotton :

Bollworms being internal feeders, they are extremely difficult to control. In order to keep

their incidence under check, both preventive and curative measures are necessary.

Removal and destruction of cotton stalks, shed bolls and other plant debris after the

last picking.

Avoid growing of bhendi and other malvaceous crops during off seasons.

Fumigation of seed to kill the hibernating larvae of pink bollworms with Aluminium

phosphide @ 600/100 cu. meter of space before storage of seed.

Crushing the larva within attacked drooping shoots due to the spotted bollworm

before flowering, arrests multiplication of the pest initially.

Collection and destruction of buds, squares, flowers and bolls in the early season

helps in keeping the pest under check.

Use of light traps and pheromone traps.

Use of resistant or tolerant varieties.

Spray Azadirachtin 0.15 EC @ 2500 ml or Azadirachtin 0.3 EC @ 2000 ml or

Azadirachtin 0.03 EC @ 2500 ml or Azadirachtin 5 % @ 250 g or Bacillus

thuringiensis @ 1000 g or Beauveria bassiana @ 2000 g/ha in 500 lit. water.

Chemical control : First spraying should be undertaken at square formation.

Subsequent spraying at 15 days interval. For spraying use any one following

insecticide.

Acephate 75 SP @ 780 g or Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 1250 ml or Chlorpyriphos 50 EC

@ 1000 ml or Profenophos 50 EC @ 1500 ml or Triazophos 40 EC @ 1500 ml or

Ethion 50 EC @ 2000 ml or Monocrotophos 36 SL @ 1125 ml or Phosalone 35 EC @

2000 ml or Cypermethrin 10 EC @ 550 ml or Cypermethrin 25 EC @ 200 ml or

Deltamethrin 11 EC @ 125 ml or Deltamethrin 25 WT @ 50 g or Deltamethrin 2.8

EC @ 500 ml or Alfacypermethrin 10 EC @ 150 ml or Beta cyfluthrin 2.45 EC @ 500

51

ml or Bifenthrin 10 EC @ 800 ml or Fenpropathrin 10 EC @ 500 ml or

Fenpropathrin 30 EC @ 170 ml or Fenvelarate 20 EC @ 270 ml or Fluvalinate 25 EC

@ 200 ml Lamda cyhalothrin 4.9 CS @ 500 ml or Lamda cyhalothrin 2.5 EC @ 750

ml or Lamda cyhalothrin 5 EC @ 375 ml or Permethrin 25 EC @ 250 ml or

Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 150 ml or Chlorfluazuron 5.4 EC @ 1500 ml or

Novaluron 10 EC @ 1000 ml or Novaluron 8.8 SC @ 1000 ml or Lufenuron 5.4 EC

@ 600 ml or Diflubenzuron 25 WP @ 300 g or Spinosad 45 SC @ 200 ml or

Emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 200 g or Fipronil 5 SC @ 2000 ml or Flubendamide 20

WG @ 250 g or Flubendamide 39.35 SC @ 125 ml or Indoxacarb 14.5 SC @ 500 ml

or Indoxacarb 15.8 EC @ 500 ml or Thiodicarb 75 WP @ 1000 g Deltamethrin 1 % +

Triazophos 35 % EC @ 850 ml or Indoxacarb 14.5 % + Acetamiprid 7.7 % SC @

500 ml or Profenophos 40 % + Cypermethrin 4 % EC @ 1000 ml or Pyriproxifen 5 %

+ Fenpropathrin 15 % EC @ 500 ml/ha in 500 lit. water.

Note : Synthetic pyrethroids may be used during growth period when bolls of first

flush are being developed and they should be alternated with conventional

insecticides 3 weeks later. More than three sprays of pyrethroids should not be

applied during one crop season.

PESTS OF SUNHEMP AND MESTA


1 Sunhemp hairy

caterpillar

Utethesia pulchella Arctiidae Lepidoptera

Sunhemp hairy caterpillar (Utethesia pulchella)

Marks of identification : The full grown caterpillar has red, dark and white markings on

its body and brownish head. The adult moth is pale whitish with red, black spots on the

upper wings and black marginal blotches on the lower wings.

Biology : The female moth lays eggs on the tender leaves and shoots. Caterpillar feeds on

leaves and pods. Larva pupates in the leaf folds or in the soil. The life cycle is completed in

about 22-30 days and a number of generations are completed in a year.

Nature of damage : The caterpillars feed on leaves and occasionally also bore into seed

capsules.


Clean cultivation.

Hand picking of caterpillars in the early stage of infestation.

Spraying with Quinalphos 25 EC @ 1000 ml/ha as soon as incidence is noticed.

52

Exercise No. 12

PESTS OF SUGARCANE


A Borer pests

1 Early shoot

borer

Chilo infuscatellus Pyralidae Lepidoptera

2 Internode borer Chilo saccarifagus

indicus


3 Top shoot borer Scirpophaga novella Pyralidae Lepidoptera

B Sucking pests

4 Whitefly Aleurolobus barodensis Aleurodidae Hemiptera

5 Pyrilla (Leaf

hopper)

Pyrilla perpusilla Fulgoridae

(Lophopidae)

Hemiptera

6 White wooly

aphid

Ceratovacuna lanigera,

C. graminum

Pemphigidae Hemiptera

7 Mealy bug Saccharicoccus sacchari Pseudococcidae Hemiptera

8 Scale insect Melanaspis glomerata Coccidae Hemiptera

C Soil pests

9 Termite Odontotermes obesus Termitidae Isoptera

10 White grub

(Root grub)

Holotrichia serrata Scarabaeidae Coleoptera

Early shoot borer (Chilo infuscatellus)

It is cosmopolitan and most serious pest of the sugarcane crop. The pest is wide

spread in all the cane growing areas of the state. It is more serious in the crop grown on

light soils and losses to the extent of 20 to 30% have been recorded.

Marks of identification : Adult moth is greyish brown or straw coloured with a wing

expanse of about 25 mm to 30 mm. Front wings are greyish brown with row of white dots

along its apical margin. Hind wings are whitish. Full grown larva is cylindrical in shape

with a dark brown head and dirty white body and measures about 20 to 25 mm in length.

Host range : In addition to sugarcane crop this pest infests crops like jowar, maize and

grasses.

Biology : A female lays about 300 or more eggs in groups of around 40 eggs on the

underside of the leaves and egg masses are covered with crimpson coloured hairs. The egg

period is about 6 days. The caterpillar becomes full fed within 4 to 6 weeks and pupates in

a larval tunnel in a silken membrane. Pupa is brownish and the pupal period continues for

53

7 to 10 days. The pest hibernates over winters in larval stage in stubbles and is more active

during Kharif.

Nature of damage : The attack of this pest is mostly noticed in the early stage of the crop.

i.e. up to 3 weeks after germination. The minute caterpillar on hatching initially feeds on

the leaves and later on enters into the young shoot and tunnels downwards.

In some cases the caterpillars enter the plants from the side of ground level by

making holes in the stalk and may bore either or both ways. Thus the central shoot dries up

causing deadheart which is characteristic sign of presence of the pest within the plant. The

symptoms are damage on the inner surface of a first leaf sheath, biting on the inner surface

of stem and offensive smell emitted by deadheart. Such deadhearts can be easily pulled

out. If the attack is heavy immediately after planting, replanting becomes necessary for gap

filling.

Internode borer (Chilo saccarifagus indicus)

It is supposed to be a major pest of sugarcane in India. It is mostly confined to

peninsular region. It has also, been reported from certain part of North India, Madhya

Pradesh and Orissa.

Marks of Identification : Adult moths are straw in colour and moderately sized. Fully

grown caterpillars are characterised by four strips which are violet in colour. Tubercles are

jet black and crochets on the prolegs form complete circle.

Host plants : Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum); alternate hosts include S. spontaneum,

sorghum, Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense), bajra, rice, Echinocloa colona, etc.

Biology : Under South Indian conditions the internode borer remains active throughout the

year. About 5-6 generations are completed in one year. The moth lay eggs in masses usually

on the upper surface of the leaf. The number of eggs in one mass varies from 5-60. The eggs

hatch into larvae in about 5-7 days. The larvae enter into stem by burrowing through the

internode. The larval period lasts for 25-35 days, after that they are converted into pupa.

Before pupation the fully grown larva comes out of the tunnel formed into the stem and

take shelter under the tightly fitting leaf sheath on the cane. There it secretes a silken

cocoon and undergoes pupation in that. The pupal life lasts for 8-10 days and then adults

emerges out. The life span of adults is approximately 3-5 days.

Nature of damage : Neonate larvae feed on the leaf spindle or leaf sheath by scraping the

tissues and characteristic white streaks are seen on leaf lamina when it opens. Later, the

larvae bore into the tender cane top and most of the borer attack is found in the top five

immature internodes. In ratoon crop, formative internodes are badly damaged, resulting in

the formation of deadhearts, which do not emit a foul smell when pulled out. The larvae

feed on the inner tissues and the frass is pushed out to the exterior.

Sugarcane top shoot borer (Scirpophaga nivella)

54

This is also a cosmopolitan species. It has been recorded as important pest of

sugarcane crop practically in all the states in our country. In Maharashtra is occurs

regularly every year and causes heavy losses.

Marks of identification : Moths are silvery white with a wing expanse of a little more than

25 mm. Females possess orange coloured tuft of hairs at the tip of the abdomen. The

matured caterpillars measure 25 to 35 mm in length and yellowish in colour

Host range : Sugarcane, wheat, maize etc.

Biology : Creamy white eggs are laid in clusters on the inner side of the sheath. A female

lays about 250-300 eggs in clusters of 30-60 eggs. They hatch in 4 to 8 days. The larvae

have the migratory habit and become full grown in 3 to 4 weeks by tunneling the stems.

Pupation takes place inside the tunnel. The adults emerge out from the pupae after 5 to 12

days. The total life cycle is completed in about 6 to 7 weeks.

Nature of damage : Unlike early shoot borer this pest is injurious to sugarcane crop in all

the stages of crop growth. The caterpillar on hatching enters first into the midrib of the leaf

and later on bore downwards into the shoot from the top causing death of central shoot. As

a result side shoots are given out from the upper most internode giving a “bunchy top

appearance” Shot holes on leaves, galleries in the midribs, death of central shoot and the

bunchy top are the characteristic symptoms of the pest.

Management Practices for sugarcane bores (All bores together)

Borers being internal feeders are extremely difficult to control. But preventive and

curative measures are therefore necessary to keep them under check. Since, most of the

borers occur together and the type of damage caused by them is more or less common, the

measures for their control are given together.

Mechanical and cultural methods :

Collection and destruction of egg masses.

Removal of infested plants.

Early earthing up of canes especially for early shoot borer and root borer control.

Mulching with trashes at planting or germination for early shoot borer.


Releasing of an egg parasitoid Trichogramma japonicum @ 2.5 lakh/ha in three

installments at fortnightly intervals.

Chemical control :

Soil application of Phorate 10 G @ 30 Kg or Carbofuran 3 G @ 33 Kg or

Chlorantraniliprole 0.4 GR @ 18.75 Kg or Fipronil 0.3 GR @ 25 Kg/ha at the time of

panting for arresting the infestation of early shoot borer in endemic area or after

infestation is noticed.

For early shoot borer control, spray three weeks after planting Chorpyriphos 20 EC

@ 1500 ml or Quinalphos 25 EC @ 2000 ml or Cypermethrin 10 EC @ 650 ml or

55

Fipronil 5 SC @ 1500 ml or Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 500 ml or Monocrotophos

36 SL @ 1500 ml/ha.

For other borers repeat subsequent spray at fortnightly interval, if needed.

Sugarcane leaf hopper or Pyrilla (Pyrilla perpusilla)

It is a major pest of sugarcane crop and breeds practically throughout the year, but

the incidence is at the peak from April to August.

Marks of identification : The adults are straw coloured hoppers with two pairs of wings,

folded like a pointed beak which is quite readily visible. Newly hatched nymphs are milky

white in colour with a pair of characteristic anal processes or filaments covered by wax.

They are very active and are found in large number on canes.

Host range : Besides sugarcane crop, it also feeds on wheat, barley, maize, bajra, jowar.

Biology : Pale greenish yellow eggs are laid in clusters of 20 to 25 mostly on the lower

surface of the leaves and also between the detached leaf sheath and the stem. the eggs are

covered with white, cottony waxy filaments. Egg laying continues from April to November

and on an average a female lays about 400 eggs over a period of about 2 months adult

longevity. Incubation period lasts for 7 to 14 days under warm conditions (summer and

rainy season) while in winter it continues upto 30 to 40 days. The nymphs become adult

hoppers within 50 to 60 days. There are about 5 instars and the life cycle is completed in

about 60 days in summer and 120 days in winter. Depending upon the weather conditions

3 to 5 generations are competed in a year.

Nature of damage : Both nymphs and adults suck the cell sap from the lower surface of

leaves which as a result lose turgidity, begin to wither and ultimately get dried under

severe conditions. Due to feeding, the sucrose percentage of juice and development of cane

is adversely affected. Besides sucking the sap, these insects secrete honeydew like

substance that spreads on the leaves, on which a black fungus (sooty mould) develops, that

adversely affects the photosynthesis and ultimately the yield of canes.


Mechanical method such as collection and destruction of egg masses helps to

minimize the pest incidence.

Disposal of cane trashes.

Stripping off 5 to 6 lower most leaves on which generally eggs are laid.


Release cocoons @ 5000/ha or egg masses @ 5,00,000 eggs/ha of Epiricania

melanoleuca Parasite for effective control of pyrilla. After establishment of

parasites, insecticide should not be used. Avoid trash burning to prevent

destruction of hibernating parasite eggs on dry leaves.

56

Use of Metarhizium anisopliae and Aspergillus flavus (fungus is also reported

effective against this pest).

Chemical control :

If biocontrol is not undertaken, spray Dimethoate 30 EC @ 1000 ml or

Monocrotophos 36 SL @ 500 ml or Chorpyriphos 20 EC @ 1500 ml or Quinalphos

25 EC @ 1200 ml/ha as soon as the incidence is noticed.

Whitefly (Mealy wing) (Aleurolobus barodensis)

It is a minor and sporadic pest but occasionally assumes a serious form and causes

heavy losses especially in water logged conditions.

Marks of identification : Adult has pale yellow body with hyaline wings dusted with waxy

bloom, exhibit brisk fluttering movements. Neonate nymphs are pale yellow in colour, flat

and oval in shape, later turn shiny black. Its body is surrounded by fringes of wax.The

fourth instar being the pupal stage, is flat, oval, greyish in colour and slightly bigger than

the nymph. There is a ‘T’ shaped white marking on the thorax, which splits at the time of

adult emergence.

Host range : It is a monophagous pest.

Biology : A female lays about 60-65 eggs. In each mass about 15-20 eggs are deposited in

rows side by side near the midrib of leaves and attached to the leaf by a short filament. The

eggs hatch in 8 to 10 days. The nymphs complete their development in 15-30 days after

passing through four instars. The pupal stage lasts for 10 to 11 days. The life cycle is

completed in 5 to 6 weeks and pest completes 9 generations in a year.

Nature of damage : Nymphs and adults suck the cell sap from the leaves which as a result,

turn yellow and ultimately dry, affecting the vigour of the crop and also yield. Due to the

injury to leaf tissues and also on account of the coverage of leaf surface with mealy

secretion, the metabolic activities of the plant are upset, which adversely affect sugar

formation. Besides, excretion of honey dew encourages the development of a black fungus

which affects photosynthesis.


Clipping off and destroying the early infested leaves to prevent further spread of the

pest.

Chemical control : After the initiation of pest incidence, spray methyl demeton 25

EC @ 3200 ml or Dimethoate 30 EC @ 2650 ml or Dichlorvos (DDVP) 76 EC @ 1100

ml/ha. Repeat at fortnightly interval if necessary.

Sugarcane white woolly aphid (Ceratovacuna lanigera, C. graminum)

57

In July 2002 in Sangli District of Maharashtra this pest was noticed for first time,

then spread in Kolhapur, Satara, Solapur, Pune, Ahmednagar and Marathwada region

within few years.

Marks of identification : Nymphs are yellowish or greenish yellowish in colour. They

moult four times and become adults. Adults are black in colour having two pairs of

transparent wings and two cornicles on last abdominal segment.

Host range : Sugarcane, bamboo.

Biology : Each female produces 15 to 35 young ones/day. Maximum 300 nymphs are paid

during 20 days of life time. Nymphal period 6-22 days. Adult period 32-57 days. Total life

cycle is completed within 30 days.

Nature of damage : Nymphs and adults suck the cell sap from leaves and excrete

honeydew like substance on which black sooty mould developed. Yellowish spots develop

on leaves, edges dry and complete leaves dried. The growth of the plant remains stunted

and yield losses upto 26 per cent. On single leaf 8000 aphids are seen. The damage is more

on older sugarcane.


Use pest free sets for planting.

Set treatment with 300 ml malathion + 100 lit. of water, dip for 15 minutes.

Use resistant varieties like Co-98125, Co-8021, Co-9909.

Proper application of nitrogenous fertilizer.

Cleaning field.


Release Chrysoperla carnea 2500 eggs/ha, Dipha aphidivora 1000 larva/ha,

Micromus spp. 2500 larva/ha, syrphid fly 2500 larva/ha.

Chemical control :

Soil application of Phorate 10 G @ 15 Kg/ha.

Spray with Oxydemeton-methyl 25 EC or Dimethoate 30 EC @ 600 ml in 400 lit.

water/ha (small sugarcane), 1050 ml in 700 lit. water/ha (medium sugarcane) and

1500 ml in 1000 lit. water/ha (tall sugarcane) or monocrtophos 36 SL @ 1500

ml/ha.

Mealybug (Saccharicoccus sacchari)

It is one of the important pests of sugarcane in the state, but sporadic in occurrence

and may cause heavy losses especially under drought conditions.

Marks of identification : Adults and nymphs of mealybugs are soft bodied, light coloured,

oval creatures and found in large numbers near the nodes, covered over by a mealy white

secretion of waxy powder. They are also found in the leaf sheaths,. The adults measure

about 5 x 2.5 mm size.

Host range : Besides sugarcane the pest is reported to feed on sorghum and grasses.

58

Nature of damage : Both nymphs and adults remain under the leaf sheaths and

continuously suck the cell sap from the cane stalks. As a result the plants are weakened

and the sucrose content of the cane juice is reduced. Excretion of honey dew encourages

development of black sooty mould, which adversely affects the photosynthesis. Mealy bug

also acts as vector of “Mottling” and “Spike” disease of sugarcane.


Selection of sets free from infestation of mealy bugs for planting and burning the

affected canes.

Clean cultivation and detrashing of old leaves alongwith leaf shoots.

Chemical control : Same as for whitefly.

Scale insect (Melanaspis glomerata)

Marks of identification : Adults are greyish black in colour, oval and slightly convex in

shape.

Host range : Sugarcane, Wild grasses.

Nature of damage : Both nymphs and adults suck cell sap from cane stalk. As a result

infested canes shriveled. Internodes shortened and sucrose percentage of juice reduced. In

severe infestation entire cane covered with the pest, crop dries. Adversely affect market

value.


Selection of setts free form scale insects for planting.

Burning affected canes.

Clean cultivation and detrashing of older leaves.

Chemical control :

Dipping canes in suspension of dimethoate 30 EC @ 235 ml or malathion 50 EC @

200 ml in 100 lit water for 2 minutes.

Spray with dimethoate 30 EC @ 0.08 % or malathion 50 EC @ 0.1 %.

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Exercise No. 13

Non insect pests of field crops

60

Exercise No. 14 & 15

Store grain pests

(I) INSECT PESTS

Several species of beetles, weevils and moths are the main insect pests, causing

losses and deterioration of stored grains and their products, from which the beetles and

weevils are more important pests. Because they destroy grains both in the larval and adult

stages.

On the basis of nature of damage caused by them the insect pests of stored grains

can be classified into three main groups as follows.

A) Primary pests (or primary grain and seed feeders)

B) Secondary pests (or secondary grain and seed feeders)

C) Primary and Secondary pests.

(A) Primary pests : The primary pests are those, which are capable of causing damage to

the whole or sound grains. They are of two types.

(a) Internal feeders and (b) External feeders

(a) Internal feeders : In this the larvae feed entirely within the kernels or grains. This

group includes following pests.


1. Rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae Curculionidae Coleoptera

2. Lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha

dominica

Bostrichidae Coleoptera

3. Pulse beetle Callosobruchus

chinensis

Bruchidae Coleoptera

4. Grain moth Sitotroga cerelella Gelechidae Lepidoptera

(b) External feeders : In this, larvae feed from outside of the grain. This includes the

following pests.


1. Khapra beetle Trogoderma

granarium

Dermestidae Coleoptera

2. Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella Pyralidae Lepidoptera

3. Rice moth Corcyra cephalonica Pyralidae Lepidoptera

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(B) Scondary pests : These pest do not damage or attack the sound grains but feed on

damaged or broken grains. These pests are listed below.


1. Rust red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum Tenebrionida

e

Coleoptera

2. Saw toothed

Grain beetle

Orzyaephilus

surinamensis

Cucujidae Coleoptera

3. Long headed beetle Latheticus oryzae Tenebrionida

e

Coleoptera

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Exercise No. 16

Non insect pests, mites, rodents, birds and microorganisms associated with stored grain and their management

63

Exercise No. 17

Preventive and curative methods of stored grain pests

64

Exercise No. 18

Storage structure and methods of grain storage and fundamental principles of grain

store management

Documents

PRACTICAL MANUAL SEMESTER : V COURSE : ENTO 354