Artichpke Insects A

Lecture To ToT trainees ( FFS) By

Mr. Allah Dad Khan Provincial Coordinator

IPM KPK MINFAL Pakistan

Artichoke aphidCapitophorous elaeagni

Symptoms

Leaves curling and turning yellow; reduced plant growth; small, deformed buds; stalks cannot support weight of buds and droop; sooty mold growing on plants due to honeydew deposits secreted by insect; insect is small, soft-bodied and pale green to yellowish green in color

Cause Insect Comments Symptoms occur when aphid numbers are large;

insects should be visible on underside of leaves; become more problematic in high temperatures and humidity

Management Destroy plant immediately after harvest to

prevent population spread; wash aphids from plants with a strong stream of water; insecticidal soaps or oils such as neem or canola oil are effective organically acceptable methods of control

ArtichokeOther Aphids Scientific names: Green peach aphid: Myzus persicaeBlack bean aphid: Aphis fabae Pea aphid: Acyrtosiphon pisum

Symptoms

The green peach aphid occurs sporadically throughout the year. Populations start on lower leaves. In heavy infestations, they may be found throughout the plant. On the central coast, populations peak in spring and fall and decline in summer and winter. Spring populations generally build up on weed hosts occurring in the field and in uncultivated areas around the fields and move to artichokes during March and April. In the southern coastal areas, populations generally peak in September to November and again in March to April. In the southern desert area where artichokes are planted as an annual crop in August, green peach aphids attain peak densities in January and February when the crop is ready for harvest.

Artichoke plume mothPlatyptilia carduidactyla

Symptoms

Holes in leaves and stems which are discolored black and filled with frass (insect excrement)

Cause Insect Comments More of a problem when growing

artichoke as a perennial Management Pick all infested buds at harvest

and destroy; cut plant stems above ground, shred plants and incorporate into soil; apply Bacillus thuringiensis or insecticide

Armyworms (Beet armyworm, Yellow striped armyworm)Spodoptera exiguaSpodoptera ornithogalli

Symptoms

Singular, or closely grouped circular to irregularly shaped holes in foliage; heavy feeding by young larvae leads to skeletonized leaves; shallow, dry wounds on fruit; egg clusters of 50-150 eggs may be present on the leaves; egg clusters are covered in a whitish scale which gives the cluster a cottony or fuzzy appearance; young larvae are pale green to yellow in color while older larvae are generally darker green with a dark and light line running along the side of their body and a pink or yellow underside

Loopers (Cabbage looper, Alfalfa looper)Trichoplusia niAutographa californica

Symptoms

Large or small holes in leaves; damage often extensive; caterpillars are pale green with a white lines running down either side of their body; caterpillars are easily distinguished by the way they arch their body when moving; eggs are laid singly, usually on the lower leaf surface close to the leaf margin, and are white or pale green in color

Flea beetle (Palestriped flea beetle)Systena blanda

Symptoms

Small holes or pits in leaves that give the foliage a characteristic “shothole” appearance; young plants and seedlings are particularly susceptible; plant growth may be reduced; if damage is severe the plant may be killed; the pest responsible for the damage is a small (1.5–3.0 mm) dark colored beetle which jumps when disturbed; the beetles are often shiny in appearance

Cause Insects Comments Younger plants are more susceptible to flea

beetle damage than older ones; older plants can tolerate infestation; flea beetles may overwinter on nearby weed species, in plant debris or in the soil; insects may go through a second or third generation in one year

Spider mites (Two-spotted spider mite)Tetranychus urticae

Symptoms

Leaves stippled with yellow; leaves may appear bronzed; webbing covering leaves; mites may be visible as tiny moving dots on the webs or underside of leaves, best viewed using a hand lens; usually not spotted until there are visible symptoms on the plant; leaves turn yellow and may drop from plant

Cause Arachnid Comments Spider mites thrive in dusty

conditions; water-stressed plants are more susceptible to attack

ArtichokeSnails and Slugs Scientific names: Brown garden snail: Helix aspersa Gray garden slug: Agriolimax reticulatus

DAMAGE

Slugs and snails are of major concern on perennial artichokes especially in winter. The juveniles and adults feed on all parts of the plant. In heavily infested fields, slug feeding on foliage causes shot holes on the leaf lamina. Slugs are particularly injurious to the buds when they scrape off soft tissues from the artichoke bracts. This injury later turns black and the quality and marketability of the affected produce is greatly reduced