RED HAIRY CATERPILLAR IN GROUNDNUT

RED HAIRY CATERPILLAR IN GROUNDNUT

Telugu name: Yerra gongali purugu

Scientific name: Amsacta albistriga and Amsacta moorei

Identification of the pest:

  • Larvae: Hairy caterpillar reddish brown with black band on either end having long reddish brown hairs all over the body.
  • Adult: Moth with white wings. Forewings are white with brownish streak all over and yellowish streak along the anterior margin and head. Hind wings are white with black marking

Life Cycle

  1.  Egg Stage: Lasts 3-5 days.
  2.  Larval Stage: 20-30 days. This is the most damaging stage.
  3.  Pupal Stage: 10-15 days, diapauses in unfavorable conditions.
  4.  Adult Stage: Moths are nocturnal and active at night, laying eggs for the next generation.

SYMPTOMS

  • Young larvae scrap the undersurface of leaves and the leaves become papery.
  • Grown up larvae devour the entire foliage, leaving the main stem as the field grazed by cattle. 

FAVORABLE CONDITIONS

  • Warm and humid weather.
  • Continuous cropping of groundnut or related host plants.
  • Poor field sanitation.

Economic Threshold Level (ETL)

Control measures should be initiated if:

  • 8 egg masses/100 meter

MANAGEMENT

Cultural Control

  • Deep summer ploughing to destroy the pupa.  
  • Early sowing to escape from pest damage.
  • Crop rotation with sorghum or pearl millet or maize will reduce pest infestation.
  • Use castor as a trap crop to attract larvae.
  • Dig out a trench around the field to avoid the migration of caterpillars and kill them.


Mechanical Control

  • Install a light trap @ 1/ ha or bonfires immediately at the onset of rains to attract and kill the moths in endemic areas.
  • Hand Picking: Collect and destroy egg masses and early instar larvae.


Biological Control

  • Conserve natural enemies viz., spiders,coccinellids, chrysopids, parasitoids  Bracon and Chelonus spp., by intercropping with pigeon pea and mung bean.


Chemical Control

  • For effective control of Caterpillar in groundnut bio pesticide like “LARVEX 250 ml / acre” can be used.

FAQ’s

1.How can I spot red hairy caterpillars early in my groundnut field?

Look for egg masses under leaves and young larvae feeding in groups. Early signs include defoliation and webbed leaf clusters. Inspect your field regularly.

2.What are the natural methods to control red hairy caterpillars? 
Use neem oil sprays or introduce natural predators .Handpicking caterpillars is also effective in small fields.

3.Are there chemical solutions for severe red hairy caterpillar infestations?
 For effective control of Caterpillar in groundnut bio pesticide like “LARVEX 250 ml / acre” can be used.

4. Can infestations of red hairy caterpillars be decreased through crop rotation?
Rotating groundnut with non-host crops like cereals breaks the pest's lifecycle and reduces infestation risks over time.

5.What damage do red hairy caterpillars cause to groundnut crops?

They defoliate plants, reducing photosynthesis and pod development. Severe infestations can lead to crop failure, especially if not addressed early.

 

Back to blog