Crop Protection :: Pests of Black and Green Gram
Spiny pod borer: Etiella zinckenella |
Symptoms of damage
- The larva feeds on the growing tips, blossom and developing pods and in advanced stage webs 2 to 4 pods together. The damaged parts will drop down due to feeding.
- Seeds are either partially or entirely eaten, and considerable granular frass and silk are present.
- Externally the pods show small surface punctures.
- One or two larvae in each pod.
Identification of the pest
- Eggs: – Egg laying preferably at the junction of the calyx and pod or on the pod surface or along the midrib of the leave.
- 47 - 178 eggs singly (or) in groups
- Egg period 4 – 21 days.
Larva:
- Dirty greenish to reddish
- Body length 15 – 22mm and larval period is 19-40 days.
Pupa:
- It pupates 1 -5 cm below ground or in plant debris.
Moth:
- Forewing is yellow- or brown-grayish and hindwings are light gray, with dark venation
- Top of abdomen is with a tuft of golden-yellow hairs.
Economic threshold level - 10% pod damage |
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Management
- Conserve natural enemies viz., Bracon etiellae, B. pectoralis, Phanerotoma planifrons
- As in Gram pod borer
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