Insect pest of gram pod caterpillar

Ehtisham Ali Hussain
University College Of Agriculture,
University Of Sargodha, Sargodha
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1. INSECT PEST OF GRAM POD CATERPILLAR Ehtisham Ali Hussain BAGF15E258 University College Of Agriculture, University Of Sargodha, Sargodha

2. IDENTIFICATION T.N Helicoverpa armigera F . Noctuidae O. lepidoptera Eggs Fertile eggs hatch in about three days during warm weather (25°C average) and 6-10 days in cooler conditions, changing from white to brown to a black-head stage before producing a hatchling. Not all eggs are fertile. Physical factors can dramatically affect egg survival and larval establishment. Heavy rainfall and wind can force eggs off leaves. High temperatures can dehydrate and kill eggs and very small larvae. Larvae The hatching larva (neonate) eats through the eggshell to make an exit hole. Neonate larvae are 1-1.5 mm long, with a brown-black head and white or yellowish-white, dark-spotted body.

3. Pupae Fully grown larvae crawl to the base of the plant, tunnel up to 10 cm into the soil and form a chamber in which they pupate. Pupal duration is determined by temperature, taking around two weeks in summer and up to six weeks in spring and autumn. However, diapausing (overwintering) pupae take much longer to emerge Adult (moth) Adult moth wingspan is 30-45 mm. The forewings are brownish or reddish-brown (females) or dull greenish to yellow or light brown (males). Hindwings are pale with a broad, dark outer margin.  H.  armigera  moths have a pale patch near the centre of this dark region.

4. LIFE CYCLE THE females lay about 500- 750 eggs on tender parts of the plants. The eggs hatch on one week . Larvae come out and move from pod to pod and are full fed in 3 weeks . The grown Larvae come out from the pod and pupate in soil for 2 weeks which prolongs in winter . There may be 8 generations in a year

5. Damage Larvae feed on the foliage when young and on the seed in later stages . A single larva may destroy 30-40 pods before it reaches maturity Symptoms of damage  Defoliation in early stages Larva’s head alone thrust inside the pods and the rest of the body hanging out. Pods with round holes

6. Control Cultural control The pest can be suppressed by hand picking the caterpillars in early stages of the attack Chemical control Spray profenofos EC 800ml/acre lambda Cyhalothrin EC 250 ml/acre

7. Biological control The ichneumonid , Campoletis chlorideae (Uchida ), is probably the most important larval parasitoid on H. armigera in chickpea in India. Carcelia illota (Curran), Goniophthalmus halli Mesnil and Palexorista laxa (Curran) have also been reported to parasitize up to 54 per cent larvae on chickpea . Although Pawar et al. reported 31.4 per cent parasitism of H. armigera larvae by C. chlorideae (Uchida), an ichneumonid , in chickpea at ICRISAT, India. In Bihar state of India, 14.3 to 58.0 per cent parasitism of H. armigera larvae by C. chlorideae was observed in chickpea fields . In Maharashtra state of India, 14.7 per cent parasitism by C. chlorideae on H. armigera larvae was observed in a chickpea field .