Pests of mustard_Identification_Management_Dr.UPR.pdf

Mustard, as a crop, is susceptible to a variety of pests that can affect its growth and yield. Here’s a rundown of some common pests that target mustard plants:

Aphids: These small, sap-sucking insects can cause significant damage by feeding on the leaves and stems. Aphids also excrete a sticky substance known as honeydew, which can lead to the growth of sooty mold on the plants.
Flea Beetles: These tiny beetles jump like fleas when disturbed and chew small holes in the leaves. They are particularly damaging in the early growth stages of the plant.
Cabbage Loopers: The larvae of a type of moth, these caterpillars are known for their distinctive looping movement. They chew large holes in the leaves and can defoliate plants if present in large numbers.
Diamondback Moth Larvae: Another caterpillar pest, these larvae chew small holes in the leaves and can cause extensive damage, especially when infestations are heavy.
Whiteflies: These are tiny, winged insects that feed on plant sap and can quickly become a problem in greenhouse or close planting conditions. Like aphids, they also secrete honeydew.
Cutworms: These are the larvae of certain types of moths and are known for cutting young plants at the stem base at ground level. They are most destructive during the night.
Root Maggots: The larvae of root maggot flies, these pests attack the roots of mustard plants, causing wilting and potentially killing young plants.
Harlequin Bugs: These are colorful stink bugs that suck the sap from mustard plant stems and leaves, causing the leaves to become stippled, wilt, and eventually die if the infestation is severe.
Mustard Sawfly: The larvae of the mustard sawfly can cause considerable defoliation, as they feed voraciously on the leaves.
Clubroot: Caused by a fungus-like organism, clubroot affects the roots, causing them to swell and distort. While technically a disease, it is often associated with pest management because controlling it involves similar preventative strategies.
Control Measures: Managing pests in mustard involves a combination of cultural, biological, and chemical methods. Crop rotation, resistant varieties, timely sowing, maintaining plant health, and using natural predators like ladybugs and parasitic wasps can help keep pest populations under control. Chemical pesticides should be used as a last resort due to their potential impact on the environment and non-target species.

1. Pests of mustard
By
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD.
Assistant Professor (Entomology)
JSACAT
Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University

2. Mustard Aphid,Lipaphiserysimi, Aphididae,
Hemiptera
1
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Symptoms of damage
Both nymphs and adults suck the sap from leaves
Plants remain stunted and sooty molds grow on the
honey dew excreted by the insects
The infected filed looks sickly and blighted in
appearance
Aphidsare small, soft-bodied, pearl-shaped insects that have a pair of cornicles(wax-secreting
tubes) projecting out from the fifth or sixth abdominal segment.
Found in both tropical and temperate areas throughout the world

3. Management:
Use tolerant varieties like JM-1 and RK-9501
Destroy the affected parts along with aphid population in the initial stage
Set up yellow stick trap to monitor aphid population
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

4. Coccinellaseptempunctata Menochilussexmaculata
Hippodamiavariegata Cheilomonespropinqua
Adult beetles may feed on an average of 10-15 adults/day
Scymnusnubilus
Coccinellatransversalis
Adaliabipunctata
olla v-nigrum
Predatory ladybird beetles
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

5. A number of entomogenous
fungi, Cephalosporiumspp.,
EntomophthoraandVerticillium
lecaniiinfect aphids
Several species of syrphidsi.e.,Sphaerophoriaspp.,
Eristallisspp., Metasyrphisspp., Xanthogramma
sppandSyrphusspp. are predating on aphids
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

6. BraconidparasitoidDiaeretiella
rapae,a very active bio-control agent
cause the mummification of aphids
The lacewing,Chrysoperla
carneapredates on the mustard
aphid colony
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

7. Predatory birdMotacillacospicais actively feeding over aphids in February-March
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

8. Whitefly, Bemisiatabaci, Aleyrodidae, Hemiptera
2
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Natureofdamage
Nymphsandadultsremaininclusteranddesap.
Symptomofattack
Whitechloroticspotsappearonleaves.
Nymphsandadultssecretehoneydew,whichleadto
sootymouldformation.
Origin inUganda, to the northern, central, eastern and coastal regions of Tanzania

9. Diamondback moth,Plutellaxylostella, Plutellidae,
Lepidoptera
3
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Throughout the Americas and in Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand
Symptoms of damage
Whitish patches due to scrapping of
epidermal leaf tissues by young larvae
The leaves give a withered appearance but in
later stages larvae bore holes in the leaves.
Leaves may be eaten up completely.
It also bores into pods and feeds developing
seed

10. Yellowish green, with fine erect black
hairs scattered all over the body
Small greyishbrown having pale whitish narrow
wings with yellow inner margins
Forewings -have three white triangular spots
along the inner-margin.
Triangular markings of opposite wings appear as
diamond shaped
Hind wings –have a fringe of long fine hairs
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

11. Management
Installing pheromone trap @ 5/ ac. to monitor the moth activity
Collection and careful destruction of the larvae at gregarious stage at least twice a week.
For control of grown up larvae apply 5% malathiondust @ 37.5 kg/ha.
Larval parasitoid, Cotesiaplutellae Larval parasitoid, Diadegmainsulare
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

12. Cabbage head borer,Hellulaundalis, crambidae,
Lepidoptera
4
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Throughout the middle east, asiaand the pacific
Symptoms of damage
Caterpillars initially mine the leaves and make
it white papery.
Later they feed on leaves and bore into stems.
Entrance hole is covered with silk and
excreta.

13. Larva
Pale whitish brown with 4 or 5
pinkish-brown longitudinal
stripes
Adult
Moths are pale greyish-brown, with reddish colour.
Forewings have grey wavy lines, an apical spot
Hind wings are pale dusky, darker in apical area
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

14. Leaf webber,Crocidolomiabinotalis, crambidae,
Lepidoptera
5
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Asia and Australia
Symptoms of damage
Newly hatched larvae feed initially on the
chlorophyll of young leaves and later on older
leaves, buds and pods, make webbings and live
within.
Severely attacked plants are defoliated.
Seeds in the pods are eaten away.

15. Adult yellowish-brown moths
Forewings-have distinct wavy lines and prominent white spots
Nearer to the thorax with black tuft of hair
Hind wings:White with dark brown apical area
Larva -Pale yellowish-brown, with a series of lateral and
sub-lateral black spots and specks
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

16. Mustard saw fly,Athalialugensproxima,
Tenthredinidae, Lepidoptera
6
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)
Tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Asia and Australia
Symptoms of damage
Initially the larva nibbles leaves, later it feeds
from the margins towards the midrib.
The grubs cause numerous shot holes and even
riddled the entire leaves by voracious feeding.
They devour the epidermis of the shoot,
resulting in drying up of seedlings and failure to
bear seeds in older plants

17. Larva -Greenish black with wrinkled body
and has eight pairs of prolegs.
On touch the larva falls toground and
feigns death.
Adult -Head and thorax is black in colour.
Abdomen is orange colour.
Wings are translucent, smoky with black veins.
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)

18. Management
Maintaincleancultivation.
Applyirrigationinseedlingstageisverycrucialforsawflymanagementbecausemostofthe
larvaedieduetodrowningeffect.Severecoldreducespestload.
Collectionanddestructionofgrubsofsawflyinmorningandevening
ConservePerilissuscingulator(larvalparasitoidsofthegrubs),andthebacteriumSerratia
marcescenswhichinfectthelarvaeofsawfly.
Useofbittergourdseedoilemulsionasantifeedant.
Dr. U. Pirithiraj, P.hD. (Entomology)