Ppt on Major Insect Pests Of Okra: Identification And Management

Okra Shoot and Fruit Borer (Earias spp.) – Identification and Biology

Key species: Earias vitella and Earias insulana (Family: Noctuidae; Order: Lepidoptera).
E. vitella adults have pale whitish forewings with a broad greenish band; E. insulana adults have uniformly green forewings.
Larvae are brown with dorsal white streaks; pupae are brown and boat-shaped.
Eggs are laid on tender shoots, flower buds, and young fruits; each female lays up to 250 eggs.
Life cycle duration: 3 weeks in summer, 4 weeks in winter; up to 12 generations per year.

Serious pest of okra, cotton, ambadi, and other malvaceous plants.
Larvae bore into tender shoots, flower buds, and fruits, causing withering and drying of shoots.
Infested flower buds and fruits drop prematurely; remaining fruits show exit holes and become deformed.
Significant yield losses due to direct feeding and secondary infections.

Install pheromone traps at 12 per hectare for monitoring and mass trapping.
Collect and destroy affected fruits and plant parts to reduce larval population.
Release egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis (100,000/ha) and predator Chrysoperla carnea larvae (10,000/ha).
Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (2 g/l) or dust carbaryl 10% DP (25 kg/ha) as biopesticides.
Recommended insecticides: Azadirachtin, emamectin benzoate, phosalone, pyridalyl, quinalphos (follow label rates and safety guidelines).

Belongs to Family: Cicadellidae; Order: Hemiptera.
Nymphs and adults suck sap from the underside of leaves, injecting toxic saliva.
Damage symptoms: hopper burn, leaf crinkling, browning, stunted growth, and reduced fruit set.
Severe infestations can cause significant yield reduction.

Remove and destroy affected plant parts to reduce pest reservoirs.
Encourage natural enemies such as spiders (Distina albina) and chrysopids (Chrysopa cymbela).
Apply foliar sprays of dimethoate, methyl demeton, or fipronil at recommended concentrations.

Family: Aleurodidae; Order: Hemiptera.
Nymphs and adults feed on leaf sap, causing loss of plant vigor and luster.
Acts as a vector for yellow vein mosaic virus (YVMV), leading to yellowing of veins and stunted growth.
Heavy infestations result in significant yield losses and virus spread.

Remove and destroy infested plants to prevent spread.
Use yellow sticky traps for monitoring and mass trapping.
Apply insecticides such as acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, or profenophos at recommended rates.

Family: Aphididae; Order: Hemiptera.
Nymphs and adults suck sap from leaves, causing yellowing, deformation, and drying of plants.
Secrete honeydew, promoting sooty mold growth and reducing photosynthesis.
Can transmit plant viruses, compounding crop losses.

Family: Tetranychidae; Order: Acarina.
Colonies found on the underside of leaves, protected by silk webbing.
Polyphagous pest infesting brinjal, okra, beans, and other crops.
Feeding causes blotches, leaf discoloration, and eventual drying and defoliation.

Spray wettable sulphur (3–5 g/l) or dust sulphur (20–25 kg/ha) for effective control.
Apply dicofol (2.7 ml/l), propargite (3 ml/l), or abamectin (150 ml/ha) as acaricides.
Repeat sprays at 10-day intervals for severe infestations.

Remove and destroy folded leaves along with larvae to reduce pest population.
Apply carbaryl 0.2% spray or dust 10% carbaryl at 20 kg/ha for chemical control.