Tag: insect pests

• Tomato is affected by several major insect pests worldwide.
• Pests cause direct damage and act as vectors for viral diseases.
• Effective management is crucial for yield and quality.

• Major pest of tomato and other crops (e.g., pigeon pea, chickpea).

• Caterpillar: Varies in color, radiating hairs, brown to greenish with dark lines.
• Moth: Medium-sized, light yellowish-brown, forewings with dark spot, hindwings pale with black border.

Life Cycle:

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

• Young larvae feed on foliage; older larvae bore into fruits.
• Creates circular holes in fruits, feeds on inner contents.
• Damaged fruits often infected by secondary pathogens.
• One larva can destroy 2–8 fruits.

• Collect and destroy infested fruits and larvae.
• Deep ploughing after harvest to expose pupae.
• Intercrop tomato with marigold (1:16 rows).

Biological Control:

• Release Trichogramma spp. and Chrysoperla carnea.
• Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (2g/lit).
• Use Helicoverpa NPV (HaNPV) @ 250 LE/ha.

Chemical Control:

• Use pheromone traps (Helilure) @ 12/ha.
• Spray recommended insecticides: Azadirachtin, Indoxacarb, Flubendiamide, Novaluron, Phosalone, Quinalphos.

• Larva: Minute, orange-yellow, apodous maggots.
• 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.

• Larvae 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%.

• Larvae mine leaves, stems, and fruits.
• Causes leaf necrosis, fruit damage, and yield loss.

Management:

• Use pheromone traps, biological control agents, and selective insecticides.

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

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

Management:

• Uproot and destroy infected plants.
• Remove alternate weed hosts (e.g., Abutilon indicum).
• Use yellow sticky traps (12/ha).
• Apply carbofuran or recommended insecticides: Dimethoate, Malathion, Oxydemeton-methyl, Thiamethoxam.

• Nymphs and adults suck sap, causing yellowing and deformation.
• 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, bud necrosis, flower drop.
• Vector of tomato spotted wilt virus.

• 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 L/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; reduced flower and fruit formation.

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

• Combine cultural, biological, and chemical methods for effective pest control.
• Monitor pest populations regularly.
• Use resistant varieties and crop rotation.
• Minimize pesticide use to prevent resistance and protect beneficial organisms.

• Tomato is susceptible to several insect pests causing significant yield loss.
• Major pests include fruit borer, leaf miner, whitefly, aphids, thrips, and red spider mite.
• Effective management requires correct identification and understanding of pest biology.

• Family: Noctuidae; Order: Lepidoptera

Economic Importance:

• Serious pest in tropical and subtropical regions.
• Damages tomato, tur, gram, and other crops.

Identification:

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

• Eggs laid on tender plant parts.
• Larval stage lasts 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 leads to secondary infections.
• One larva can damage 2–8 fruits.

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

Biological:

• Release Trichogramma spp. and Chrysoperla carnea.
• Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (2g/lit) or HaNPV (250 LE/ha).

Chemical:

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

• 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; pupates in soil or leaves.
• Total life cycle: ~3 weeks.

Damage:

• Larvae mine between leaf epidermis, causing serpentine trails.
• Severe cases cause leaf drying and drop.

• Collect and destroy mined leaves.
• Spray neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) 5%.
• Practice crop rotation and avoid overuse of insecticides to conserve natural enemies.

• Family: Gelechiidae; Order: Lepidoptera

Identification:

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

Damage:

• Leaf mines, galleries in stems, and fruit damage.
• Can cause severe yield loss if unmanaged.

Management:

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

• Family: Aleyrodidae; Order: Hemiptera

Identification:

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

Damage:

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

• Uproot and destroy infected 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: Dimethoate, Malathion, Oxydemeton-methyl, Thiamethoxam.

• Family: Aphididae; Order: Hemiptera

Identification:

• Small, soft-bodied insects, green or black.

Damage:

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

Management:

• Seed treatment with imidacloprid or thiamethoxam.
• Use yellow sticky traps.
• Encourage natural predators (ladybird beetles, lacewings).

• Family: Thripidae; Order: Thysanoptera

Identification:

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

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 (10,000/ha).
• Spray methyl demeton or dimethoate as needed.

• Family: Tetranychidae; Order: Acarina

Identification:

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

Damage:

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

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 pest populations regularly using traps and field scouting.
• Promote use of resistant varieties and natural enemies.
• Apply insecticides judiciously to avoid resistance and conserve beneficial insects.

• Tomato is susceptible to several insect pests causing significant yield loss.
• Major pests include fruit borer, leaf miner, whitefly, aphids, thrips, and red spider mite.
• Effective management requires understanding pest biology and damage symptoms.
• Integrated pest management (IPM) combines cultural, biological, and chemical methods.

• Family: Noctuidae; Order: Lepidoptera

Identification:

• Caterpillars: Varying color, radiating hairs, brown to greenish with dark lines.
• Moth: Medium-sized, light yellowish brown, forewings with dark spot, hindwings pale 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.

• Young larvae feed on foliage; mature larvae bore into fruits.
• Circular holes on fruits; larvae feed inside, causing internal damage.
• Damaged fruits often infected by secondary pathogens.
• One larva may damage multiple fruits (2–8).

• Collect and destroy infested fruits and larvae.
• Deep ploughing after harvest exposes pupae to predators.
• Intercrop with marigold (1:16 ratio with tomato).

Biological:

• Release Trichogramma spp. and Chrysoperla carnea.
• Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (2g/litre) or HaNPV @ 250 LE/ha.

Chemical:

• Use pheromone traps (Helilure) @ 12/ha.
• Spray recommended insecticides: Azadirachtin, Indoxacarb, Flubendiamide, Novaluron, Phosalone, Quinalphos (as per label rates).

• Family: Agromyzidae; Order: Diptera

Identification:

• Larva: Minute, orange-yellow, apodous maggot.
• 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.

• Larvae 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%.

• Family: Aleyrodidae; Order: Hemiptera

Identification:

• 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.

• Uproot and destroy virus-infected plants.
• Remove alternate weed hosts (e.g., Abutilon indicum).
• Use yellow sticky traps (12/ha).
• Apply carbofuran 3% G @ 40 kg/ha.
• Spray insecticides: Dimethoate, Malathion, Oxydemeton-methyl, Thiamethoxam (as per label rates).

• Family: Aphididae; Order: Hemiptera

Nature of Damage:

• Nymphs and adults suck sap, causing yellowing and deformation.
• Honeydew secretion promotes sooty mould, 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:

• Remove and destroy diseased plants.
• Use yellow sticky traps (15/ha).
• Release Chrysoperla carnea larvae (10,000/ha).
• Spray methyl demeton or dimethoate (as per label rates).

• Family: Tetranychidae; Order: Acarina

Identification:

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

Nature of Damage:

• Leaves turn reddish-brown, bronzed; webbing present.
• Severe infestation leads to leaf drying and reduced fruit set.

Management:

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

• Combine cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical methods for sustainable pest control.
• Monitor pest populations regularly for timely intervention.
• Promote use of resistant varieties and natural enemies.
• Minimize pesticide use to prevent resistance and protect beneficial organisms.