Symptom of damage

• Leaves are shiny with honeydew or darkened by sooty mould growing on the honeydew.
• Crumpling and downward curling observed under severe attack.
• Activity of ants on the aphid-infested plants is common.
• Contamination of lint with honeydew and associated fungi leads to poor quality cotton.

Identification characters and biology

• Destructive stage: Nymphs and adults.
• Reproduction by parthenogenesis and viviparity.
• Nymphs: Small, yellowish or brownish in colour and mostly wingless. Nymphal period: 7-9 days.
  
• Adults: Yellowish brown to black with black cornicles and yellowish green abdominal tip. Adult longevity: 12-20 days.
  

Management

• ETL: 15% of infested plant

Integrated management

• Avoid late sowing.
• Treat seeds with Beauveria bassiana @ 10 g/kg.
• Apply nitrogenous fertilizers judiciously.
• Grow cowpea as intercrop or on the bunds to increase the natural enemy build up.
• Spray any one of the following insecticides when pest population reaches ETL: Imidacloprid 17.8% SL 40 – 50 ml/acre or Azadirachtin 0.03% EC 1000 ml/acre or Buprofezin 25%SC 400 ml/acre or Diafenthiuron 50%WP 240 g/acre or Thiacloprid 21.7%SC 40-50 ml/acre or Flonicamid 50% WG 60 g/acre or Thiamethoxam 25% WG 40 g/acre