TOBACCO CATERPILLAR IN COTTON

Telugu name: Pogaku ladde purugu

Scientific name: Spodoptera litura

Identification of the pest:

• Egg - Laid in masses which appear golden brown
• Larva - Pale greenish with dark markings.
• Gregarious in the early stages

Adult:

Forewings – brown colour with wavy white marking.

Hindwings- white colour with a brown patch along the margin.

Lifecycle:

• Destructive stage: Larva.
• Egg: Laid in masses which appear golden brown
• Larva: Pale greenish with dark markings. Gregarious in the early stages
• Pupa: Brown. Pupation in soil.
• Adult: Forewings brown colour with wavy white marking. Hindwings white colour with a brown patch along the margin. Adult longevity: 7-10 days.

 Symptoms:

• Irregular holes on leaves initially and later skeletonisation leaving only veins and petioles.
• Heavy defoliation
• Presence of bored  holes.

Favourable conditions:

• Warm and humid weather ,especially after rainfall favours the infestation of tobacco caterpillar.
• Attack is more during flowering and boll formation stages.

ETL: 8 Egg masses /100 m row

Management:

Cultural practices:

• Plough the field deeply before sowing to expose and destroy caterpillar pupae.
• Avoid planting cotton in the same field continuously. Rotate with non-host crops like cereals.
• Remove weeds in and around the field that act as shelter for the pests.
• Use light traps to attract and kill adult moths during the night.

Biological contol:

Encourage beneficial insects like:

• Trichogramma parasitoids: They kill the eggs.
• Braconid wasps: They attack the larvae.
• Chrysoperla: It feeds on eggs and young larvae.

Chemical control:

• Use insecticides like Chlorantaniliptole 18.5 SC @0.3ml/lit or Emamectin benzoate 5SG@0.4g/lit.
• For effective control of caterpillars use Biopesticide “LARVEX”.
• Spray chemicals during evening times when caterpillars are active.