TOBACCO CUTWORM IN CHILLI

TOBACCO CUTWORM IN CHILLI

Telugu name: Pogaku ladde purugu

Scientific name: Spodoptera litura

Identification of pest:

  • Egg: Eggs are golden yellow, laid in masses and covered by silky hairs.
  • Larva: Are seen in groups, young caterpillars are light green with black head or black spots
  • Adult: Are brown in colour. Forewings are brown colour with wavy white markings, hind wings are white colour with a brown patch along the margin.

Life cyle:

1.Egg: Female moths lay eggs in clusters, usually on the underside of chilli leaves. The eggs hatch in 2-4 days.

2. Larva (Caterpillar): The hatching larvae feed on the leaves, causing damage. They grow in size over 2-3 weeks, passing through several molts. Mature larvae can also feed on fruits and stems.

3. Pupa: After the larvae are fully grown, they burrow into the soil to pupate. This stage lasts around 10-15 days.

4. Adult (Moth): The adult moths emerge from the pupae. They fly to mate and lay eggs, starting the cycle again. Moths live for about 5-7 days.

  • This entire cycle can take 30-40 days, depending on the temperature and humidity. There can be several generations in a year, especially in warm conditions.

SYMPTOMS

  • Newly hatched larvae scrap the green matter in the leaf
  • Affected leaf looks like a papery white structure
  • Later instar larvae feed by making small holes
  • In severe infestations they feed voraciously on the entire lamina, petiole and some times even the tender twigs on the terminal shoots of plants.
  • Also feed on the floral parts and bore into the fruits.

FAVORABLE CONDITIONS 

  • Warm and humid weather.
  • Dense planting, which facilitates movement and survival.
  • Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers.

Economic Threshold Level (ETL)

  • Around 1-2 larvae per plant or 10-15% of plants showing feeding damage.

MANAGEMENT

Cultural Practices

  • Ploughing the soil helps to expose the pupae, thereby killing it through natural enemies and desiccation. 
  • Castor can be used as trap crop in field bunds or in borders of chilli crop as the moth that prefers to oviposit in castor can be collected and destroyed. 
  • Hand collection and destruction of egg masses and larvae are a viable method of destruction of the insect. 
  • Installation of sex pheromone trap at 15 traps/ha helps to monitor and mass trap the adult moth population.
  • Provide poison bait with chlorpyriphos 1.25 kg, rice bran 12.5 kg, jaggery 1.25 kg and water 7.5 L/ha.

Biological Control

  • Introduce natural Predators like Birds, ground beetles, and spiders.
  • Parasitoids like Trichogramma species (egg parasitoids).
  • Entomopathogens: Use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or entomopathogenic fungi like Beauveria bassiana.
  • Chemical Control
  • Follow proper application methods to avoid harming beneficial organisms.
  • Novaluron 10 % EC7.5 ml/10 lit.
  • Spinosad 45 % SC3.2 ml/10 lit.
  • For effective control of caterpillar Bio pesticides like “LARVEX 250 ml / acre” can be used.

FAQ’S:

1. How can we identify a tobacco cutworm infestation in chilli plants?

Look for chewed leaves, damaged fruit, and larvae hiding near the base of the plant or in the soil. They’re most active at night.

2. Which traps we should use to manage tobacco cutworms?

Pheromone traps are effective for monitoring and reducing adult moth populations. They help break the lifecycle.

3.What are the chemical treatments for tobacco cutworms?

For effective control of caterpillar Bio pesticides like “LARVEX 250 ml / acre” can be used.

4. Are chilli plants at all growth stages vulnerable to tobacco cutworms?

Yes, but young seedlings and fruiting plants are most at risk. Protecting early growth stages is critical to reducing damage.

5.Can crop rotation help reduce tobacco cutworms?

Yes, rotating with non-host plants like legumes or grains disrupts the lifecycle and reduces their population in the soil.

 

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