Among the two species of Earias which attack bhindi ‘Earias vittella’ causes a significant reduction in fruit yield. The adults are medium sized moths with silvery creamy white hind wings and pale white fore wings with a broad wedge shaped green patch in the middle. Female moths lays spherical light bluish green eggs singly on buds, flowers and the tip of tender shoots and fruits. The adult larva is stout, spindle shaped and dark brown in colour with white patches on the dorsum. Pupation takes place in a boat shaped silken cocoon.
Infestation symptoms
Initially larva bore into the tender shoot resulting in withering and drooping of shoots.
As a result, side shoots may arise. Later, the larva bores into the flower, flower bud and fruits. It feeds on the inner tissues. Damaged buds falls down, and affected fruits are deformed.
Management
* Collection and destruction of the infested fruits,
* Release of larval parasitoid Chelonus blackburni @ 40,000/ha.
* Seed treatment with imidacloprid 70 WS checks the pest during early stage of crop.
* During fruit formation stage, spraying of carbaryl 50 WP @ 1 g or fenvalerate 20 EC @ 0.5 ml or cypermethrin 10 EC @ 0.5 ml per litre of water.
* Care should be taken that fruits are not harvested for at least 3 days after spraying.
Tuesday, October 4, 2005
