Tag: pests

• Tomato is susceptible to several major insect pests causing significant yield losses.
• Pests affect all growth stages, from seedlings to fruiting plants.
• Effective management requires understanding pest biology and integrated control methods.

• Major pest of tomato, also attacks tur and gram.

Identification:

• Caterpillars: Variable color, radiating hairs, brown to greenish with dark lines.
• Moth: Medium-sized, 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.
• One larva can damage 2–8 fruits.

Management:

• Collect and destroy infested fruits and larvae.
• Intercrop with marigold (1:16 rows) to attract pests.
• Deep ploughing after harvest to expose pupae.
• Install pheromone traps (Helilure) at 12/ha.
• Grow resistant varieties (Rupali, Roma, Pusa Red Plume).
• Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (2g/lit).
• Release Trichogramma spp. and Chrysoperla carnea as biocontrol agents.
• Spray HaNPV @ 250 LE/ha for biological control.
• Chemical options: Azadirachtin, Indoxacarb, Flubendiamide, Novaluron, Phosalone, Quinalphos (as per recommended doses).

• 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:

• 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%.

• Small greyish moth; larvae are cream to greenish with dark head.

Nature of Damage:

• Larvae mine leaves, stems, and fruits, causing blotches and fruit damage.
• Can cause up to 80–100% yield loss if unmanaged.

Management:

• Use pheromone traps for monitoring and mass trapping.
• Remove and destroy infested plant parts.
• Release natural enemies (Trichogramma spp., Nesidiocoris tenuis).
• Apply Bacillus thuringiensis or selective insecticides as per recommendations.

• 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 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).

• Nymphs and adults suck sap from leaves and stems.
• Plants turn yellow, become deformed, and may dry up.
• Honeydew secretion leads to 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 or dimethoate as per recommendations.

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

Nature of Damage:

• Leaves turn reddish-brown and bronzy.
• Webbing on leaves; severe cases cause leaf drying and reduced fruit set.

Management:

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

• Combine cultural, biological, and chemical methods for effective pest control.
• Monitor fields regularly for early pest detection.
• Promote use of resistant varieties and natural enemies.
• Minimize pesticide use to delay resistance and protect beneficial organisms.

• 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.

• Mango faces several physiological disorders, pests, and diseases affecting yield and quality.
• Major problems include alternate bearing, malformation, spongy tissue, and fruit drop.
• Effective integrated management is essential for sustainable production.

• Irregular fruiting pattern with heavy crop one year and little or none the next.

Occurrence:

• Common in north Indian varieties; south Indian varieties are mostly regular bearers.

Management:

• Soil drenching with paclobutrazol (5–10 g/tree) induces flowering and increases yield.
• Proper nutrition and irrigation management help reduce alternate bearing.

• Vegetative malformation (common in seedlings and young plants).
• Floral malformation (affects bearing trees, reduces productivity).

Symptoms:

• Bunchy top: compact leaves at shoot apex; arrested shoot growth.
• Malformed panicles in floral malformation.

Management:

• Deblossoming and spraying 200 ppm NAA reduce malformed panicles.
• Remove and destroy affected shoots and panicles.

• Distal end of fruit turns black, hardens, and ripens prematurely.
• Affected fruits become unmarketable.

Causes:

• Smoke from brick-kilns (CO, CO2, SO2, acetylene) within 600 m.

Management:

• Increase chimney height of brick-kilns.
• Spray borax (0.6%) at 10–14 day intervals from fruit set.

• Cluster of small, dark green fruitlets at panicle tip (bunch tip).
• Fruitlets grow to marble size, then growth ceases.

Causes:

• Adverse climate, especially low temperature during February–March.
• Poor embryo development.

Management:

• Protect trees from adverse weather; select tolerant varieties.

• Specific to Alphonso mango; affects export quality.

Symptoms:

• Normal external appearance; internal flesh patch is spongy, yellowish, and sour.

Causes:

• High temperature, convective heat, post-harvest sun exposure.

Management:

• Use sod culture and mulching to reduce incidence.
• Harvest at three-fourths maturity.
• Use resistant hybrids (e.g., Ratna, Arka Puneet).

• High fruit drop rate, especially in first four weeks after fruit set (up to 99%).

Management:

• Regular irrigation during fruit development.
• Timely pest and disease control.
• Apply NAA (50 ppm) or 2,4-D (20 ppm) six weeks after fruit set.

• Spray phosalone 0.05%, carbaryl 2 g/L, or phosphamidon 1 mL/L.

Nut Weevil (Cryptorrhynchus mangiferae):

• Maintain orchard cleanliness; destroy adults in bark crevices.
• Spray fenthion 0.1%.

Stem Borer (Batocera rufomaculata):

• Apply monocrotophos 36 WSC (10 mL/tree) via padding.
• Apply carbofuran 3G (5 g/bore hole) and plug with mud.

Fruit Fly (Bactrocera spp.):

• Plough interspaces to expose pupae.
• Use methyl eugenol traps; remove and bury fallen fruits.

• Apply sulphur dust (350 mesh) in early morning.
• Spray wettable sulphur 0.2% or tridemorph 0.05%.

Anthracnose and Stalk/End Rot (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides):

• Spray mancozeb 0.2% or carbendazim 0.1% preharvest, 3 times at 15-day intervals.

Sooty Mould (Capnodium spp.):

• Spray dimecron 0.03% + maida 5% (1 kg maida/starch boiled in 1 L water, diluted to 20 L).

• Adopt integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) for sustainable mango production.
• Combine cultural, chemical, and biological methods for effective control.
• Regular monitoring and timely interventions are crucial.
• Use resistant varieties and proper orchard sanitation.

• 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.