Tag: Entomology

• Tomato is susceptible to several insect pests causing significant yield loss.
• Pests affect all growth stages: seedling, vegetative, flowering, and fruiting.
• Effective management requires correct identification and integrated approaches.

• Caterpillars: Varying colors, radiating hairs, brown to greenish with dark lines.
• Moth: Stout, light yellowish-brown, forewings with dark spot, hindwings smoky white.

• Eggs laid on tender plant parts.
• Larval stage: 18–25 days, pupates in soil.
• Total life cycle: 30–40 days.

Nature of Damage:

• Young larvae feed on foliage; older larvae bore into fruits.
• Circular holes in fruits; internal feeding causes rotting.
• One larva can damage multiple fruits.

• Collect and destroy infested fruits and larvae.
• Intercrop with marigold (1:16 rows) to attract egg-laying adults.
• Deep ploughing after harvest exposes pupae to predators.
• Install pheromone traps (Helilure) at 12/ha.
• Use resistant varieties: Rupali, Roma, Pusa Red Plume.
• Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (2g/lit).

• Release Trichogramma pretiosum or T. chilonis for egg parasitism.
• Spray HaNPV @ 250 LE/ha for larval control.
• Release Chrysoperla carnea larvae for biological control.

Chemical Control:

• Azadirachtin 1% EC: 2 ml/lit
• Indoxacarb 14.5% SC: 8 ml/10 lit
• Flubendiamide 20 WG: 5 g/10 lit
• Novaluron 10% EC: 7.5 ml/10 lit
• Phosalone 35% EC: 13 ml/10 lit
• Quinalphos 25% EC: 1 ml/lit

• Larva: Minute, orange-yellow, apodous maggots.
• Pupa: Yellowish-brown, found in soil or leaves.
• Adult: Pale yellow, small fly.

Life Cycle:

• Eggs laid singly on upper leaf surface.
• Larval period: 7–10 days; total cycle ~3 weeks.

Nature of Damage:

• Maggots mine between leaf epidermal layers.
• Serpentine mines visible; severe cases cause leaf drying and drop.

Management:

• Collect and destroy mined leaves.
• Spray neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) 5%.

• Small greyish-brown moth; larvae mine leaves, stems, and fruits.

Nature of Damage:

• Leaf mining, fruit boring, and stem tunneling.
• Leads to leaf necrosis, fruit rot, and yield loss.

Management:

• Use pheromone traps for monitoring and mass trapping.
• Remove and destroy infested plant parts.
• Apply Bacillus thuringiensis or recommended insecticides.

• Eggs: Pear-shaped, light yellow.
• Nymphs: Oval, scale-like, greenish-white.
• Adults: Tiny, white, scale-like.

Nature of Damage:

• Nymphs and adults suck sap, causing chlorosis and leaf curling.
• Vector of tomato leaf curl virus.

Management:

• Uproot and destroy diseased plants.
• Remove alternate weed hosts (e.g., Abutilon indicum).
• Install yellow sticky traps (12/ha).
• Apply carbofuran 3% G @ 40 kg/ha or recommended insecticides.

Chemical Control:

• Dimethoate 30% EC: 1 ml/lit
• Malathion 50% EC: 1.5 ml/lit
• Oxydemeton-methyl 25% EC: 1 ml/lit
• Thiamethoxam 25% WG: 4 ml/10 lit

• Nymphs and adults suck sap from leaves and stems.
• Infested plants become yellow, deformed, and may dry up.
• Honeydew secretion leads to sooty mould, reducing photosynthesis.

Management:

• Seed treatment with imidacloprid or thiamethoxam.
• Use yellow sticky traps.

• Nymphs: Yellowish.
• Adults: Dark, fringed wings.

Nature of Damage:

• Silvery streaks on leaves, flower drop, bud necrosis.
• Vector of tomato spotted wilt virus.

Management:

• Uproot and destroy diseased plants.
• Install yellow sticky traps (15/ha).
• Release Chrysoperla carnea larvae (10,000/ha).
• Spray methyl demeton 25 EC or dimethoate 30 EC @ 1 lit/ha.

• Eggs: Hyaline, globular, laid in masses.
• Nymphs: Yellowish.
• Adults: Small, red.

Nature of Damage:

• Leaves turn reddish-brown, bronzed, and dry.
• Webbing on leaves; severe cases affect flowering and fruiting.

Management:

• Spray wettable sulphur 50 WP (2g/lit).
• Spray dicofol 18.5 EC (2.5 ml/lit).

• Accurate pest identification is crucial for effective management.
• Combine cultural, biological, and chemical methods for sustainable control.
• Monitor pest populations using traps and field scouting.
• Use resistant varieties and timely interventions to minimize losses.

• Tomato is affected by several insect pests causing significant yield losses.
• Pests damage leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits, reducing quality and market value.
• Effective management requires knowledge of pest identification, biology, and control methods.
• Integrated pest management (IPM) is recommended for sustainable control.

• Major pest of tomato; also attacks tur, gram, and other crops.
• Widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions.

Identification:

• Caterpillar: Varying color, radiating hairs, brown to greenish with dark lines.
• Moth: Stout, light yellowish-brown, forewings with dark spot, hindwings smoky white with black border.

Life Cycle:

• Eggs laid on tender plant parts.
• Larval period: 18–25 days; pupates in soil.
• Total life cycle: ~30–40 days.

Nature of Damage:

• Larvae bore circular holes in fruits, feed on inner contents.
• Secondary infection by fungi and bacteria common.
• One larva can damage multiple fruits.

• Collect and destroy infested fruits and larvae.
• Intercrop tomato with marigold (1:16 rows) to attract and trap adults.
• Plough fields post-harvest to expose and destroy pupae.
• Install pheromone traps (Helilure) at 12/ha.
• Grow resistant varieties (e.g., Rupali, Roma, Pusa Red Plume).
• Spray Bacillus thuringiensis 2g/litre.
• Release Trichogramma pretiosum or T. chilonis for egg parasitism.
• Spray HaNPV @ 250 LE/ha for biological control.
• Release Chrysoperla carnea larvae for predator control.

Chemical Control:

• Azadirachtin 1% EC: 2 ml/litre
• Indoxacarb 14.5% SC: 8 ml/10 litres
• Flubendiamide 20 WG: 5 g/10 litres
• Novaluron 10% EC: 7.5 ml/10 litres
• Phosalone 35% EC: 13 ml/10 litres
• Quinalphos 25% EC: 1 ml/litre

• Larva: Minute, orange-yellow, legless maggots.
• Pupa: Yellowish-brown, found in soil or leaves.
• Adult: Small, pale yellow flies.

Life Cycle:

• Eggs laid singly on upper leaf surface.
• Larval period: 7–10 days; pupates in soil or leaves.
• Total life cycle: ~3 weeks.

Nature of Damage:

• Maggots mine between leaf epidermal layers, creating serpentine trails.
• Severe infestation causes leaf drying and drop.

Management:

• Collect and destroy mined leaves.
• Spray neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) 5%.

• Small grey-brown moth; larvae are cream to greenish with dark head.

Nature of Damage:

• Larvae mine leaves, stems, and fruits, causing blotches and galleries.
• Fruit damage leads to secondary infections and yield loss.

Management:

• Use pheromone traps for monitoring and mass trapping.
• Remove and destroy infested plant parts.
• Apply biologicals (e.g., Bacillus thuringiensis).
• Use selective insecticides as per recommendations.

• Eggs: Pear-shaped, light yellow.
• Nymphs: Oval, scale-like, greenish-white.
• Adults: Tiny, white, scale-like insects.

Nature of Damage:

• Nymphs and adults suck sap, causing chlorosis and leaf curling.
• Vector of tomato leaf curl virus.

Management:

• Uproot and destroy diseased plants.
• Remove alternate weed hosts (e.g., Abutilon indicum).
• Use yellow sticky traps (12/ha).
• Apply carbofuran 3% G @ 40 kg/ha or recommended insecticides.

Chemical Control:

• Dimethoate 30% EC: 1 ml/litre
• Malathion 50% EC: 1.5 ml/litre
• Oxydemeton-methyl 25% EC: 1 ml/litre
• Thiamethoxam 25% WG: 4 ml/10 litres

• Nymphs and adults suck sap from leaves and stems.
• Plants turn yellow, become deformed, and may dry up.
• Honeydew secretion promotes sooty mould, reducing photosynthesis.

Management:

• Seed treatment with imidacloprid or thiamethoxam.
• Use yellow sticky traps.
• Spray recommended systemic insecticides if needed.

• Nymphs: Yellowish.
• Adults: Dark with fringed wings.

Nature of Damage:

• Silvery streaks on leaves, premature flower drop, bud necrosis.
• Vector of tomato spotted wilt virus.

Management:

• Uproot and destroy diseased plants.
• Use yellow sticky traps (15/ha).
• Release Chrysoperla carnea larvae (10,000/ha).
• Spray methyl demeton 25 EC or dimethoate 30 EC @ 1 litre/ha.

• Eggs: Hyaline, globular, laid in masses.
• Nymphs: Yellowish.
• Adults: Small, red.

Nature of Damage:

• Leaves become reddish-brown, bronzed, and dry.
• Webbing on leaves; severe infestations reduce flower and fruit set.

Management:

• Spray wettable sulphur 50 WP @ 2 g/litre.
• Spray dicofol 18.5 EC @ 2.5 ml/litre.

• Monitor pest populations regularly using traps and field scouting.
• Adopt cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical control methods in combination.
• Use resistant varieties and maintain field hygiene.
• Apply pesticides judiciously to avoid resistance and residue problems.
• Promote natural enemies and minimize ecological disruption.

• Tomato is affected by several major insect pests causing significant yield loss.
• Pests attack various plant parts: leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits.
• Effective management requires understanding pest biology and damage symptoms.

• Family: Noctuidae; Order: Lepidoptera

Economic Importance:

• Serious pest in tropical and subtropical regions.
• Also attacks other crops like pigeon pea and chickpea.

Identification:

• Caterpillar: Variable color, radiating hairs, greenish with dark lines.
• Moth: Medium-sized, light brown, forewings with dark spot, smoky hindwings.

• Eggs laid on tender plant parts.
• Larval stage lasts 18–25 days; pupates in soil.
• Complete life cycle: 30–40 days.

Nature of Damage:

• Young larvae feed on foliage; older larvae bore into fruits.
• Bore circular holes, feed inside fruits, causing secondary infections.
• One larva can damage multiple fruits.

• Collect and destroy infested fruits and larvae.
• Deep ploughing after harvest to expose pupae.
• Intercrop with marigold (1:16 ratio) to attract egg-laying adults.

Biological Control:

• Release Trichogramma spp. and Chrysoperla carnea.
• Spray Bacillus thuringiensis or HaNPV.

Chemical Control:

• Use pheromone traps (Helilure) at 12/ha.
• Apply insecticides: Azadirachtin, Indoxacarb, Flubendiamide, Novaluron, Phosalone, Quinalphos as per recommended doses.

• Family: Agromyzidae; Order: Diptera

Identification:

• Larva: Minute, orange-yellow, apodous maggots.
• Adult: Pale yellow, small fly.

Life Cycle:

• Eggs laid singly on upper leaf surface.
• Larval period: 7–10 days; pupation in soil or leaves.
• Total life cycle: ~3 weeks.

Nature of Damage:

• Larvae mine between leaf epidermis, creating serpentine trails.
• Severe infestation leads to leaf drying and drop.

Management:

• Remove and destroy mined leaves.
• Spray neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) 5%.

• Family: Gelechiidae; Order: Lepidoptera

Nature of Damage:

• Larvae mine leaves, stems, and fruits, causing blotches and galleries.
• Leads to fruit damage and yield loss.

Management:

• Use pheromone traps for monitoring and mass trapping.
• Release natural enemies (Trichogramma spp.).
• Apply Bacillus thuringiensis or selective insecticides as needed.

• Family: Aleyrodidae; Order: Hemiptera

Identification:

• Egg: Pear-shaped, light yellow.
• Nymph: Oval, scale-like, greenish-white.
• Adult: Tiny, white, scale-like.

Nature of Damage:

• Nymphs and adults suck sap, causing chlorosis and leaf curling.
• Vector of tomato leaf curl virus.

Management:

• Remove and destroy infected plants and weeds.
• Use yellow sticky traps (12/ha).
• Apply carbofuran or recommended insecticides: Dimethoate, Malathion, Oxydemeton-methyl, Thiamethoxam.

• Family: Aphididae; Order: Hemiptera

Nature of Damage:

• Nymphs and adults suck sap, causing yellowing and deformation.
• Honeydew secretion leads to sooty mould growth, reducing photosynthesis.

Management:

• Seed treatment with imidacloprid or thiamethoxam.
• Use yellow sticky traps.

• Family: Thripidae; Order: Thysanoptera

Identification:

• Nymphs: Yellowish; Adults: Dark with fringed wings.

Nature of Damage:

• Silvery streaks on leaves, bud necrosis, flower drop.
• Vector of tomato spotted wilt virus.

Management:

• Uproot and destroy diseased plants.
• Use yellow sticky traps (15/ha).
• Release Chrysoperla carnea larvae.
• Spray methyl demeton or dimethoate as per recommendations.

• Family: Tetranychidae; Order: Acarina

Identification:

• Eggs: Hyaline, globular, laid in masses.
• Nymphs: Yellowish; Adults: Small, red.

Nature of Damage:

• Leaves turn reddish-brown, bronzed, and dry.
• Webbing on leaves; affects flower and fruit formation.

Management:

• Spray wettable sulphur (50 WP, 2g/lit) or dicofol (18.5 EC, 2.5 ml/lit).

• Combine cultural, biological, and chemical methods for effective pest control.
• Monitor fields regularly for early pest detection.
• Use resistant varieties and crop rotation.
• Promote natural enemies and minimize pesticide use.