eChapters

Leaf webber: Syngamia abruptalis :Pyralidae
 
Caterpillars feed extensively on tender foliage leaving veins alone and the growth of the plants are affected.

Leaf roller: Psara stullalis: Pyralidae

Larvae of these small moths are also leaf Webbers and rollers, and rolls the leaves and feed inside causing browning and drying of affected leaves. Inspect the crop for the pest incidence and remove the initial attacks systematically.

Cut worms: Agrotis suffusa: Noctuidae

Adult moth lays eggs in moist soil or on lower side of leaves.  Dark brown larvae cut young plants at ground level and shoot of grown up plants. Damage results in growth retardation of plants and reduced yield.

Cabbage semilooper: Thysanoplusia orichalcea :Noctuidae

Eggs are laid singly on lower surface of leaves.  The emerging larvae feed as a scraper initially and then feed voraciously on the leaves. The larva is greenish and hence not easily noticed initially. But when patches of damage occur in the crop, examine for the larvae and remove and destroy all the larvae. Chemical control is not advisable, and spraying extracts of other aromatic plants can deter egg laying very well.

Shoot borer: Chilo infuscatellus : Pyralidae

This pyralid is more commonly known as a pest of sugarcane. Eggs are laid in batches on lower side of leaves.  The emerging larvae move down and cut a hole at the ground level and enters the stem.  Due to feeding of larva, the central shoot begins to wilt and dry causing dead heart. The yield of the crop is affected.New tillers may develop but will not have the physiological maturity and oil content at the time of harvest.

The cotton aphid: Aphis gossypii: Aphididae

Symptoms of Damage

Both nymphs and adults cause the damage by sucking the plant sap from shoot tips, pods and leaves. Severe infestation may result in complete drying of affected parts. Attacked leaves curl up, wither and fall. These are yellowish green or brown coloured aphids. The total life cycle from first instar nymph to adult occupies an average of 8-10days. It reproduces parthenogenetically and viviparously. The female may produce 10-30 young ones in a life span of 10-12 days. The nymphs transform into adult in 5-8 days after passing through four moults. 

The cotton aphid :Aphis gossypii: Aphididae

Both nymphs and adults cause the damage by sucking the plant sap from shoot tips, flowers and leaves.  Severe infestation may result in complete drying of affected parts.  Attacked leaves curl up, wither and fall. These are yellowish green or brown coloured aphids.  The total life cycle from first instar nymph to adult occupies an average of 8-10days.  It reproduces parthenogenetically and viviparously.  The female may produce 10-30 young ones in a life span of 10-12 days.  The nymphs transform into adult in 5-8 days after passing through four moults.

Thrips : Thrips flavus : Thripidae

Infestation of thrips is generally during hot months with high night humidity.  The attack by thrips leads to discolouration, bronzing and drying of affected leaves.

Semilooper : Thysanoplusia orichalcea  : Noctuidae

Bluish green or grey coloured eggs are laid singly on lower surface of leaves.  Larvae feed voraciously on leaves and defoliate plants.

Semilooper: Thysanoplusia(Plusia) orichalcea : Noctuidae

Bluish green or grey coloured eggs are laid singly on lower surface of leaves.The larvae are semi loopers and feed voraciously on leaves and cause defoliation of the plants.

Lace wing bug: Monantha globulifera : Tingidae

Eggs are inserted slantingly into leaves and other tender foliage.  Black spiny nymphs and lace winged adults suck the sap from leaves. Attacked leaves develop yellow patches become brown, shrivel and dry up in severe cases.

Leaf feeder : Helicoverpa armigera : Noctuidae

The female moth lays eggs on tender foliage. Young larva feeds on tender foliage and starts infesting the older ones in later instars. A single caterpillar can destroy many leaves

Withania somnifera, also known as Ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, Winter cherry, Ajagandha, Kan-aje Hindi, Amukkara in Tamil and Samm Al Ferakh, is a plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family.

Grasshoppers : Trilophida an- nulata : Acrididae

The nymphs and adults of this grasshopper feed on the margins of leaves of Aswagandha. It is only a minor pest, nibbling on the leaves.

Spotted boll  worms/ Shoot and fruit borer: Earias vitella (=E.fabia), E. insulana: Noctuidae

This is a pest on cotton, bhendi, hibiscus, holly hock and other malvaceous vegetables. Moths lay eggs singly in leaf axils, bracts and leaf veins and on under surface. Larvae bore into tender shoots, buds, flowers and fruits and feed on internal contents.  Damage results in drooping of shoots and shedding of buds and flowers. The infested fruits have bore holes, are deformed and become unfit for consumption.  Bore holes are plugged with excreta.

STRAWBERRY

White grubs and cut worms

These insects cut the roots and stems of young plants.
 
Hairy caterpillars

Defoliate plants during June-July

Fruit borer (Anar butterfly): Deudorix(Virachola) isocrates; D. epijarbas: :Lycaenidae

This is a pest distributed all over India and adjoining countries .It has a host range covering apple, gooseberry ber, citrus, guava, litchi, loquat, peach, mulberry, pear, sapota and  tamarind. Adult is a beautiful glossy bluish to brownish violet butterfly with an orange patch on forewings and a tail in the hind wing.

Plum weevil : Amblyrrhinus poricollis, Myllocerus laetivirens, M. sabulosus, M. undecimpustulatus : Curculionidae

Adult beetles feed on the epidermis of fresh and tender leaves leaving behind only the network of veins and affected leaves dry up and fall. They cause serious damage in young plantations.

Defoliating beetles
 
Adoretus duvauceli, A. versutus, Anomala dimidiata, A. flavipes, A. lineatopennis, A. rufiventris, Holotrichia longipennis, Hilyotrogus holosericeous, Lachnosterna coriacea, L. crinicollis, L. longipennis, Mimela passerine, M. pectoralis.

Mealy bug: Dysmicoccus brevipus: Pseudococcidae

Mealy bugs are major pests of pineapple in India. They can attack roots and aerial parts. Colonies of reddish –white mealy bugs infest roots, crown, and fruits and suck sap. The leaves change in colour from green to red or pink and the margins reflect inwards and leaf tip starts drying. Severely infested plants become stunted and bear only small fruits. The attacked plants should be drenched with an insecticide solution of contact insecticides like Quinalphos or Dichlorvos or Chlorpyriphos@ 0.05% concentration, in between the fronds and allowed to drip down to reach the roots. Addition of liquid soap @4 ml per litre or 4 g of soap powder per litre is a must to get the best results.

Green peach aphid/peach leaf curl aphid : Brachycaudus helichrysi Aphididae

These are green aphids that suck the sap from growing buds. Leaf buds become weak and result in poor setting and premature fruit fall.
 
Blossom thrips : Thrips rhopalantennalis, T. flavus, T. florum, Haplothrips tenuipennis, Frankliniella dampfi : Thripidae

These are tiny, yellow, pale-brown and black slender insects seen within the flowers and flower buds. Adults and nymphs lacerate floral parts and suck sap resulting in brown spots. Infested flowers give sickly and faded look. Lesions cause flower fall, inferior fruits and loss in yield. Attack on tender leaves causes necrotic silvering, curling, deformation and withering.

Fruit flies : Bactrocera cucurbitae,Toxotrypana curvicauda : Tephritidae

The fruit flies lay eggs on maturing fruits. The emerging maggots feed in the fruit pulp, causing rotting of the fruits.

AK grasshopper: Poekilocerus pictus: Acrididae

Nymphs and adults of the AK grass hopper feed on papaya leaves and tender bark.  Maximum damage is done during July-August in North India.
 
Aphids : Aphis gossypii, Myzus persicae: Aphididae

Nymphs and adult aphids suck sap from leaves. They are more important as a vector of papaya mosaic virus disease. The affected trees die in an year or two.

Olive-scale: Metacernema japonica: Black scale: Saissetia oleae: Coccidae

Olive scales are tiny pale-greyish insects which settle on branches, leaves and fruits and are active during April-November. S. oleae are round greenish brown scales. Nymphs and adults of both the species suck the sap from the tender shoots, and leaf petioles. Sooty-mould appears on leaves and branches of infested plants as a consequence of honeydew secre-tion. Shoots get dried up and fruits remain undersized.

Mango Fruit fly : Bactrocera dorsalis : Tephritidae

This is probably the most economically important pest of mango. It can attack many crops like mango, guava, peach, apricot, cherry, pear, ber, citrus, banana, papaya, avocado, passion fruit, coffee, melons, jack fruit and strawberry. There are also related species that may cross infect. The adults are light brown small flies with a single pair of membranous transparent wings. The other pair is modified into halteres. Eggs are thrust into the skin of the mangoes when they are semi ripe. A drop of resin comes out of the ovipunctures and can be seen as a black mark. While purchasing mango, this can be used as an indication of the presence of the fruit fly eggs.

Fruit –fly : Bactrocera dorsalis :Tephritidae

The process of egg laying and ovipunctures makes the fruits deformed. Feeding of maggots in the pulp induces rotting and fruit drop.

Bark-eating caterpillar : Indarbela quadrinotata

Severe damage on loquat due to I. quadrinotata was observed during October- November in Uttar Pradesh. There are some cultivars like  Thames Pride which are less susceptible.