Bactrocera Cucurbitae
Scientific Name: Bactrocera Cucurbitae
Common Name: Melon fly
Host crops :
Gherkin, Cucumber , Bottle gourd, Bitter gourd, Sweet gourd, Snake gourd, Ridge gourd, Pointed gourd , Sponge gourd, Pumpkins ,Mask melon, Watermelon.
Pest Identification:
Adult Melon fruit flies are similar in size to a housefly, about 6-8 mm long. The body is light brown to a honey color in appearance. There are several prominent bright yellow markings on the thorax (upper body) and a distinctive black ‘T’ pattern at the base of the abdomen (lower body). The wings are clear with a dark coastal vein and “melon seed” shaped spot at the tip.
Damage to Crop:
It prefers young, green, and tender fruits for egg laying. The females lay the eggs 2 to 4 mm deep in the fruit pulp, and the maggots feed inside the developing fruits. At times, the eggs are also laid in the corolla of the flower, and the maggots feed on the flowers. A few maggots have also been observed to feed on the stems. The fruits attacked in early stages fail to develop properly, and drop or rot on the plant. Since, the maggots damage the fruits internally; it is difficult to control this pest with insecticides. One female may lay over 1000 eggs during her life. Oviposition peaks occur in the morning and late afternoon. Eggs hatch in about 24 hours.
Bactrocera Cucurbitae
Scientific Name: Bactrocera Cucurbitae
Common Name: Melon fly
Host crops :
Gherkin, Cucumber , Bottle gourd, Bitter gourd, Sweet gourd, Snake gourd, Ridge gourd, Pointed gourd , Sponge gourd, Pumpkins ,Mask melon, Watermelon.
Pest Identification:
Adult Melon fruit flies are similar in size to a housefly, about 6-8 mm long. The body is light brown to a honey color in appearance. There are several prominent bright yellow markings on the thorax (upper body) and a distinctive black ‘T’ pattern at the base of the abdomen (lower body). The wings are clear with a dark coastal vein and “melon seed” shaped spot at the tip.
Damage to Crop:
It prefers young, green, and tender fruits for egg laying. The females lay the eggs 2 to 4 mm deep in the fruit pulp, and the maggots feed inside the developing fruits. At times, the eggs are also laid in the corolla of the flower, and the maggots feed on the flowers. A few maggots have also been observed to feed on the stems. The fruits attacked in early stages fail to develop properly, and drop or rot on the plant. Since, the maggots damage the fruits internally; it is difficult to control this pest with insecticides. One female may lay over 1000 eggs during her life. Oviposition peaks occur in the morning and late afternoon. Eggs hatch in about 24 hours.
Bactrocera Dorsalis
Scientific Name: Bactrocera Dorsalis
Common Name: Oriental fruit fly
Host crops :
Apricot, Banana, Citrus, Guava, Mango, Papaya, Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Sapota, Tomato.
Pest Identification:
The color of the fly is highly variable but mostly yellow with dark markings on the thorax and abdomen. Generally, the abdomen has two horizontal black stripes and a longitudinal median stripe extending from the base of the third segment to the apex of the abdomen. These markings may form a “T” shaped pattern, but the pattern varies considerably.
Damage to Crop:
Eggs of B. dorsalis are laid below the skin of the host fruit. These hatch within 1-3 days and the larvae feed for another 9-35 days. Females begin to lay eggs about 8 days after emergence from the puparium. Under optimum conditions, a female can lay more than 3,000 eggs during her lifetime, but under field conditions approximately 1,200 to 1,500 eggs per female is considered to be the usual production. Ripe fruit are preferred for egg laying, but immature ones may be also attacked. Larval feeding in fruits is the most damaging. Damage usually consists of breakdown of tissues and internal rotting associated with maggot infestation, but this varies with the type of fruit attacked. Infested young fruit becomes distorted, callused and usually drop; mature attacked fruits develop a water soaked appearance. The larval tunnels provide entry points for bacteria and fungi that cause the fruit to rot. When only a few larvae develop, damage consists of an unsightly appearance and reduced marketability because of the egg laying punctures or tissue break down due to the decay.
Bactrocera Dorsalis
Scientific Name: Bactrocera Dorsalis
Common Name: Oriental fruit fly
Host crops :
Apricot, Banana, Citrus, Guava, Mango, Papaya, Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Sapota, Tomato.
Pest Identification:
The color of the fly is highly variable but mostly yellow with dark markings on the thorax and abdomen. Generally, the abdomen has two horizontal black stripes and a longitudinal median stripe extending from the base of the third segment to the apex of the abdomen. These markings may form a “T” shaped pattern, but the pattern varies considerably.
Damage to Crop:
Eggs of B. dorsalis are laid below the skin of the host fruit. These hatch within 1-3 days and the larvae feed for another 9-35 days. Females begin to lay eggs about 8 days after emergence from the puparium. Under optimum conditions, a female can lay more than 3,000 eggs during her lifetime, but under field conditions approximately 1,200 to 1,500 eggs per female is considered to be the usual production. Ripe fruit are preferred for egg laying, but immature ones may be also attacked. Larval feeding in fruits is the most damaging. Damage usually consists of breakdown of tissues and internal rotting associated with maggot infestation, but this varies with the type of fruit attacked. Infested young fruit becomes distorted, callused and usually drop; mature attacked fruits develop a water soaked appearance. The larval tunnels provide entry points for bacteria and fungi that cause the fruit to rot. When only a few larvae develop, damage consists of an unsightly appearance and reduced marketability because of the egg laying punctures or tissue break down due to the decay.
Leucinodes orbonalis
Scientific Name: Leucinodes orbonalis
Common Name: Brinjal fruit & shoot Borer
Host crops :
Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer (BFSB) is a very dangerous pest of brinjal. It not only reduces the yield by making holes in shoots as well as in fruits but also reduces the aesthetic value of the fruits so loss get doubled. It is a monophagous pest feeds only on Brinjal. The normal control measures like spraying of pesticides does not solve the problem instead making the environment polluted, ecological disturbance and vegetable poisoning.
Pest Identification:
The adult is grayish-brown moth with white wings. The fore and hind wings are provided with marginal hairs and bears pinkish-brown spots. The adult size is 20 mm across the spread wings.
Damage to Crop:
Larva is a internal feeder, it immediately bore into the nearest tender shoot or flower or fruit just after hatching,. Soon after boring into shoots or fruits, they plug the entrance hole with excreta. As a result, the affected twigs, flower and fruits dries up and may drop off. Presence of wilted shoots in an eggplant field is the surest sign of damage by this pest. This reduces plant growth, which in turn, reduces fruit number and size. New shoots can arise but this delays crop maturity and the newly formed shoots are also subject to larval damage. Larval feeding in flowers results in failure to form fruit from damaged flowers. Larval feeding inside the fruit results in destruction of fruit tissue. The feeding tunnels are often clogged with frass. This makes even slightly damaged fruit unfit for marketing. The yield loss varies from season to season and from location to location.
Leucinodes Orbonalis
Scientific Name: Leucinodes orbonalis
Common Name: Brinjal fruit & shoot Borer
Host crops :
Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer (BFSB) is a very dangerous pest of brinjal. It not only reduces the yield by making holes in shoots as well as in fruits but also reduces the aesthetic value of the fruits so loss get doubled. It is a monophagous pest feeds only on Brinjal. The normal control measures like spraying of pesticides does not solve the problem instead making the environment polluted, ecological disturbance and vegetable poisoning.
Pest Identification:
The adult is grayish-brown moth with white wings. The fore and hind wings are provided with marginal hairs and bears pinkish-brown spots. The adult size is 20 mm across the spread wings.
Damage to Crop:
Larva is a internal feeder, it immediately bore into the nearest tender shoot or flower or fruit just after hatching,. Soon after boring into shoots or fruits, they plug the entrance hole with excreta. As a result, the affected twigs, flower and fruits dries up and may drop off. Presence of wilted shoots in an eggplant field is the surest sign of damage by this pest. This reduces plant growth, which in turn, reduces fruit number and size. New shoots can arise but this delays crop maturity and the newly formed shoots are also subject to larval damage. Larval feeding in flowers results in failure to form fruit from damaged flowers. Larval feeding inside the fruit results in destruction of fruit tissue. The feeding tunnels are often clogged with frass. This makes even slightly damaged fruit unfit for marketing. The yield loss varies from season to season and from location to location.
P. gossypiella
Scientific Name: P. gossypiella
Common Name: Pink Bollworm
Host crops :
Cotton
Pest Identification:
Pink bollworm is a major pest of cotton crop. Insect is highly adaptable to different climatic conditions and larvae hide over unfavorable cottonseed in which they are well protected and remain alive for many months. Survival of the pest from one season to another is entirely through hibernating larvae in seeds, soils and plant debris. Incidence of P. gossypiella during the season commences from the moth emerging from the over wintering larvae through the summer season. This is the only pest, which peaks at harvest.
Damage to Crop:
In the younger crop larvae bore into tender squares and feed within resulting into drying of the terminal shoots. Later flower buds and bolls are attacked. Infested flower buds fail to open up completely due to webbing by the larva, giving the appearance of a typical rosette bloom. Larvae damage the bolls by tunneling into them, destroying the pulp and lint. Infested bolls open prematurely permitting fungal infection.
P. gossypiella
Scientific Name: P. gossypiella
Common Name: Pink Bollworm
Host crops :
Cotton
Pest Identification:
Pink bollworm is a major pest of cotton crop. Insect is highly adaptable to different climatic conditions and larvae hide over unfavorable cottonseed in which they are well protected and remain alive for many months. Survival of the pest from one season to another is entirely through hibernating larvae in seeds, soils and plant debris. Incidence of P. gossypiella during the season commences from the moth emerging from the over wintering larvae through the summer season. This is the only pest, which peaks at harvest.
Damage to Crop:
In the younger crop larvae bore into tender squares and feed within resulting into drying of the terminal shoots. Later flower buds and bolls are attacked. Infested flower buds fail to open up completely due to webbing by the larva, giving the appearance of a typical rosette bloom. Larvae damage the bolls by tunneling into them, destroying the pulp and lint. Infested bolls open prematurely permitting fungal infection.
Helicoverpa (Heliothis) armigera
Scientific Name: Helicoverpa (Heliothis)armigera
Common Name: Cotton bollworm
Host crops :
Soybean, Tomato, Maize, Bengal gram, Red gram, Cotton, Chili, Green gram, Okra, Rose, Cow pea, Sunflower, Sorghum, Chrysanthemum, Groundnut.
Pest Identification:
It is stoutly built, large brown or yellowish brown moth, about 20 mm long and dark specks that make V- shaped marks on the forewings and a conspicuous black spot in the centre. The hind wings are light and dull-coloured with black border. The larva measures 35-45 mm long and is greenish with dark broken grey lines along the sides of the body.
Damage to Crop:
The young larvae on hatching feed on foliage for some times and later bore into the reproductive parts of hosts (flowers and fruits) with their bodies hanging outside. Feeding damage results in holes bored into reproductive structures and feeding within the plant.
Helicoverpa (Heliothis) armigera
Scientific Name: Helicoverpa (Heliothis)armigera
Common Name: Cotton bollworm
Host crops :
Soybean, Tomato, Maize, Bengal gram, Red gram, Cotton, Chili, Green gram, Okra, Rose, Cow pea, Sunflower, Sorghum, Chrysanthemum, Groundnut.
Pest Identification:
It is stoutly built, large brown or yellowish brown moth, about 20 mm long and dark specks that make V- shaped marks on the forewings and a conspicuous black spot in the centre. The hind wings are light and dull-coloured with black border. The larva measures 35-45 mm long and is greenish with dark broken grey lines along the sides of the body.
Damage to Crop:
The young larvae on hatching feed on foliage for some times and later bore into the reproductive parts of hosts (flowers and fruits) with their bodies hanging outside. Feeding damage results in holes bored into reproductive structures and feeding within the plant.
Spodoptera litura
Scientific Name: Spodoptera litura
Common Name: Tobacco caterpillar
Host crops :
Cabbage, Chilli, Maize, Corn, Cotton, Grapes, Tobacco, Tomato, Beans, Cauliflower, Red gram, Black gram, Green gram, Pea, Groundnut, Caster, Sunflower, Onion, Sorghum, Soybean.
Pest Identification:
Adult moth is stout with wavy white markings on the brown forewings and white hind wings with a brown patch along its margin. Eggs are laid in groups usually on ventral side of the tender leaves and covered with brown hair. The egg period is 4-5 days. Larva is stout, cylindrical, pale brownish with dark markings. The body may have row of dark spots or transverse and longitudinal grey and yellow bands. When fully grown, measures about 35-40 mm in length.
Damage to Crop:
On most crops, damage arises from extensive feeding by larvae, leading to complete stripping of the plants. Freshly hatched caterpillars feed gregariously, scrapping the leaves from ventral surface . Greenish caterpillars feed on the leaves voraciously and present an appearance to the field as if grazed by cattle. Since this pest is nocturnal in habit it hides under the plants, cracks and crevices of soil and debris during the day time. Feacal pellets are seen on the leaves and on the ground which is the indicator of the pest incidence.
Spodoptera litura
Scientific Name: Spodoptera litura
Common Name: Tobacco caterpillar
Host crops :
Cabbage, Chilli, Maize, Corn, Cotton, Grapes, Tobacco, Tomato, Beans, Cauliflower, Red gram, Black gram, Green gram, Pea, Groundnut, Caster, Sunflower, Onion, Sorghum, Soybean.
Pest Identification:
Adult moth is stout with wavy white markings on the brown forewings and white hind wings with a brown patch along its margin. Eggs are laid in groups usually on ventral side of the tender leaves and covered with brown hair. The egg period is 4-5 days. Larva is stout, cylindrical, pale brownish with dark markings. The body may have row of dark spots or transverse and longitudinal grey and yellow bands. When fully grown, measures about 35-40 mm in length.
Damage to Crop:
On most crops, damage arises from extensive feeding by larvae, leading to complete stripping of the plants. Freshly hatched caterpillars feed gregariously, scrapping the leaves from ventral surface . Greenish caterpillars feed on the leaves voraciously and present an appearance to the field as if grazed by cattle. Since this pest is nocturnal in habit it hides under the plants, cracks and crevices of soil and debris during the day time. Feacal pellets are seen on the leaves and on the ground which is the indicator of the pest incidence.
Tuta absoluta
Scientific Name: Tuta absoluta
Common Name: Tomato leafminer
Host crops :
Tomato, Potato.
Pest Identification:
Adult are about 10 mm long have filiform antennae and silverish-grey scales, black spots on anterior wings. Tuta absoluta is a holometabolous insect with a high rate of reproduction. It may be able to complete 10-12 generations per year depending on environmental conditions.
Tuta absoluta completes a generation in 28 days. Adult males live longer than females. Both genders mate multiple times. The first mating usually occurs the day after adults emerge. Each female can lay up to 260 eggs in a lifetime. Freshly hatched larvae are light yellow or green and only 0.5 mm in length. As they mature, larvae develop a darker green color and a characteristic dark band posterior to the head capsule. Four larval instars develop. Larvae do not enter diapauses when food is available. Pupation may take place in the soil, on the leaf surface, within mines or in packaging material. A cocoon is built if pupation does not take place in the soil.
Damage to Crop:
Larvae of Tuta absoluta mine the leaves, flowers, shoots, and fruit of tomato as well as the leaves and tubers of potato. After hatching, larvae penetrate apical buds, flowers, new fruit, leaves, or stems. Conspicuous irregular mines and galleries as well as dark frass make infestations relatively easy to spot. The damage caused by this pest is severe, especially in young plants. In tomato, it can attack any plant part at any crop stage and can cause up to 100% crop destruction.
Tuta absoluta
Scientific Name: Tuta absoluta
Common Name: Tomato leafminer
Host crops :
Tomato, Potato.
Pest Identification:
Adult are about 10 mm long have filiform antennae and silverish-grey scales, black spots on anterior wings. Tuta absoluta is a holometabolous insect with a high rate of reproduction. It may be able to complete 10-12 generations per year depending on environmental conditions.
Tuta absoluta completes a generation in 28 days. Adult males live longer than females. Both genders mate multiple times. The first mating usually occurs the day after adults emerge. Each female can lay up to 260 eggs in a lifetime. Freshly hatched larvae are light yellow or green and only 0.5 mm in length. As they mature, larvae develop a darker green color and a characteristic dark band posterior to the head capsule. Four larval instars develop. Larvae do not enter diapauses when food is available. Pupation may take place in the soil, on the leaf surface, within mines or in packaging material. A cocoon is built if pupation does not take place in the soil.
Damage to Crop:
Larvae of Tuta absoluta mine the leaves, flowers, shoots, and fruit of tomato as well as the leaves and tubers of potato. After hatching, larvae penetrate apical buds, flowers, new fruit, leaves, or stems. Conspicuous irregular mines and galleries as well as dark frass make infestations relatively easy to spot. The damage caused by this pest is severe, especially in young plants. In tomato, it can attack any plant part at any crop stage and can cause up to 100% crop destruction.
Scirpophaga incertulas
Scientific Name: Scirpophaga incertulas
Common Name: Yellow Stem Borer
Host crops :
Rice.
Pest Identification:
The forewing of the female YSB moth is ochreous yellow to whitish with a black spot in the middle. It has a wingspan of 24-36 mm. Its abdomen is wide anal tufts are pale ochreous. The adult male is smaller than female. The forewings are gray or light brown in color and have two rows of black spots at the tip. Sometimes the males are whitish yellow and spots on the forewing are not very clear. Variation in the intensity of colour in the forewing and the size of the moth has also been observed.
Damage to Crop:
Egg are laid on the underside of the leaves, freshly hatched larvae move downwards to leaf sheath and feed on inner tissue, With the advancement of growth and development larvae bore into stem bore into stem and feed on inner surface. Due to such feeding at vegetative stage the central leaf whorl unfold, turns brown and dries up which is termed as Dead Hearth. Infestation after the panicle initiation result in drying of panicle which may not emerges at all and those that have already emerges do not produce grain and appears as white head.
Scirpophaga incertulas
Scientific Name: Scirpophaga incertulas
Common Name: Yellow Stem Borer
Host crops :
Rice.
Pest Identification:
The forewing of the female YSB moth is ochreous yellow to whitish with a black spot in the middle. It has a wingspan of 24-36 mm. Its abdomen is wide anal tufts are pale ochreous. The adult male is smaller than female. The forewings are gray or light brown in color and have two rows of black spots at the tip. Sometimes the males are whitish yellow and spots on the forewing are not very clear. Variation in the intensity of colour in the forewing and the size of the moth has also been observed.
Damage to Crop:
Egg are laid on the underside of the leaves, freshly hatched larvae move downwards to leaf sheath and feed on inner tissue, With the advancement of growth and development larvae bore into stem bore into stem and feed on inner surface. Due to such feeding at vegetative stage the central leaf whorl unfold, turns brown and dries up which is termed as Dead Hearth. Infestation after the panicle initiation result in drying of panicle which may not emerges at all and those that have already emerges do not produce grain and appears as white head.
Plutella xylostella
Scientific Name: Plutella xylostella
Common Name: Diamondback moth
Host crops :
Cabbages, Cauliflowers , Broccoli.
Pest Identification:
The adult is a small, slender, grayish-brown moth with pronounced antennae. It is about 6 mm long, and marked with a broad cream or light brown band along the back. The band is sometimes constricted to form one or more light-colored diamonds on the back, which is the basis for the common name of this insect. When viewed from the side, the tips of the wings can be seen to turn upward slightly. Adult males and females live about 12 and 16 days, respectively, and females deposit eggs for about 10 days. The moths are weak fliers, usually flying within 2 m of the ground, and not flying long distances. However, they are readily carried by the wind.
Damage to Crop:
Plant damage is caused by larval feeding. Although the larvae are very small, they can be quite numerous, resulting in complete removal of foliar tissue except for the leaf veins. This is particularly damaging to seedlings, and may disrupt head formation in cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. The presence of larvae in florets can result in complete rejection of produce, even if the level of plant tissue removal is insignificant.
Plutella xylostella
Scientific Name: Plutella xylostella
Common Name: Diamondback moth
Host crops :
Cabbages, Cauliflowers , Broccoli.
Pest Identification:
The adult is a small, slender, grayish-brown moth with pronounced antennae. It is about 6 mm long, and marked with a broad cream or light brown band along the back. The band is sometimes constricted to form one or more light-colored diamonds on the back, which is the basis for the common name of this insect. When viewed from the side, the tips of the wings can be seen to turn upward slightly. Adult males and females live about 12 and 16 days, respectively, and females deposit eggs for about 10 days. The moths are weak fliers, usually flying within 2 m of the ground, and not flying long distances. However, they are readily carried by the wind.
Damage to Crop:
Plant damage is caused by larval feeding. Although the larvae are very small, they can be quite numerous, resulting in complete removal of foliar tissue except for the leaf veins. This is particularly damaging to seedlings, and may disrupt head formation in cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. The presence of larvae in florets can result in complete rejection of produce, even if the level of plant tissue removal is insignificant.
