integrated pest management of cotton
TRANSCRIPT
1
Fruit and Boll Feeders
American boll worm (Helicoverpa armigera )
Identification & Monitoring
This is a major pest
The pest is active from July-October and February-April.
The adult moth is stout, yellowish brown with a dark speck
area on the forewings, which have grayish wavy lines and
a black kidney shaped mark whereas the hind wings are
whitish with blackish patch along the outer margin.
The larvae are about 35 mm long, greenish brown with
dark gray yellow stripes along the sides of the body.
For 65-100 days old crop, one egg or larvae per plant or 5-10 % infested fruiting bodies
is the ETL
Damage
The larvae feed on the leaves initially and then bore in to the square/bolls and seeds
with its head thrust into the boll, leaving the rest of the body outside.
A single larva can damage 30-40 bolls.
The entry holes are large and circular at the base of the boll.
Cultural Control
Plough deeply, clean cultivation to expose the resting pupae, crop rotation and
avoidance of ratooning reduces pest population.
Use tolerant varieties.
Trap cropping with crops like tomato, and destroying them when the population is high.
Use of maize, and cowpea on borders and wild brinjal and setaria as intercrop
significantly helps in reducing the pest population.
Mechanical Control
Cotton is harvested in 3-4 pickings by hand as the boll mature.
The number of pickings varies with the maturity habit of the variety.
Cotton from damaged boll should not be kept with good quality cotton.
Never pick wet cotton.
On dew days, pick cotton in late mornings to avoid moisture in cotton.
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Biological Control
Release of egg parasitoids like Trichogramma chilonis or T. brasielenis or T. achaea @
1,50,000 /ha from 45th day onwards at 10-15 days interval (6 releases) and larval
parasitoids such as Chilonus blackburni or Bracon brevicornis or Telenomus heliothidae
or Carcelia illota or Coteria kazat or Campoletis chloridae @ 2000 adults/ha at 15 days
interval.
Release pupa parasitoids Brachymeria sp.
Release of the predators Chrysoperla carnea or Scymnus sp. or Eulophids would
suppress the population of larvae.
Spray HaNPV @ 250 LE/ha from 35th to 60th day of crop stage.
Apply B.t.k.I @ 1 kg/ha.
Application of fungal pathogens like Beauveria bassiana or Neumorea riley under humid
conditions is effective.
Use 5% neem seed kernel extract (NSKE)
Chemical Control
The following insecticides are effective against the pest:
Endosulfan 35 EC 2.5 lit/ha; or
Quinalphos 25 EC 2.0 lit/ha; or
Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 2 lit/ha; or
Cypermethrin 10 EC 600-800 ml/ha
Trizophos 40 EC @ 1.5 lit/ha
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Pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders )
Identification & Monitoring
This is a major pest, is active from October -
November.
The adult moths are dark with blackish spots on
forewings. The margins of hind wings are deeply
fringed. Wing span is 8-9 mm.
The caterpillars are creamy yellow when young and
turn pink when grown, 8-10 mm long with distinct
brown head.
Eggs are laid on the underside of tender parts of the
plant (shoots, flower buds, leaves and green bolls).
Damage
The damage is caused by the caterpillars by feeding on
the flower buds, panicles and bolls.
The holes of entry close down by excreta of larvae
which are feeding inside the seed kernels. They cut
window holes in the two adjoining seeds thereby
forming "double seeds" and finally damage them.
The attacked buds and immature bolls drop off. Lint is
destroyed; ginning percentage and oil content are
impaired.
For 65-100 days crop, 5-10% infested fruiting bodies is
the ETL.
Cultural Control
Clean cultivation and destruction of crop residues ( fallen leaves, twigs etc.) before the
onset of season.
Plough deeply to expose the hibernating larvae / pupae.
Avoid late sowing of the crop. Early sowing helps in early maturity facilitating escape.
Use of tolerant varieties (Khandwa-2, JKH-1, Abadita, LH 900, Sujay and Desi cotton).
Withholding irrigation water to avoid prolonged late boll production/ formation to
reduce the buildup of over-wintering population.
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Mechanical Control
Use pheromone traps baited with insecticides to kill the pest/ monitor pest population.
Biological Control
Release of egg parasitoids Trichogramma chilonis or Bracon elechidae or Elasmus
johnstoni or pupal parasitoid Microbracon lefroyi would keep in check the population of
PBW.
Encourage the activities of predators Chrysoperla carnea or Scymnus sp. or Triphles
tantilus or Pyremotes ventricosus (mite) or release them in the fields.
Apply bacterial formulations B.t.k. @1 kg/ha.
Chemical Control
Hot water treatment of the seeds up to 600C kill the hibernating larvae. Treat the seeds
with aluminium phosphide.
Application of insecticides like chlorpyriphos 20 EC or endosulfan 35 EC or triazophos 40
EC @ 2.5 l/ha spray
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Tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura Fab.)
Identification & Monitoring
The adult moth is stout with brownish forewings and
whitish hind wings.
The caterpillars are pale green with dark markings
initially which later turn dark brown with numerous
transverse and longitudinal bands, 25-35 mm long.
It is found throughout the year.
Set-up pheromone traps to monitor the ETL.
Damage
The larvae feed gregariously on the under surface of the leaves and skeletonize them
Leaving only the mid-rib and veins in severe cases.
They also attack flowers, buds and squares causing considerable loss.
Cultural Control
Plough deeply to expose the pupae and hibernating larvae.
Mechanical Control
Mechanical collection when larvae are feeding in groups, i.e., the younger larvae.
Collection and destruction of egg masses.
Set-up pheromone traps.
Biological Control
Release egg parasitoids Trichogramma sp. (1.5 lakh/ha) and larval parasitoids Chelonus
blackburni or Telenomus remus or Bracon sp.
Release of predators Chrysoperla carnea @ 50,000 /ha.
Spray Spodoptera NPV @ 250 LE/ha.
Apply B.t.k. @ 1 kg/ha.
Chemical Control
Spraying of insecticides endosulfan 35 EC @ 600-750 ml/ ha effectively reduces the
population.
Spraying synthetic pyrethroids fenvalerate 20 EC @ 400-500 ml/ha or cypermethrin 10
EC or
decamethrin 2.8 EC @ 600 - 700 ml/ha is also effective.
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Spotted bollworm (Earias insulana Boisd Earias vitella Fab. )
Identification & Monitoring
These are major pests
E. vitella is abundant in high rainfall areas and E.
insulana in areas of scanty rainfall.
The pest attacks the crop from 35-110 days of age.
The moths of both the species have wings of about 25
mm. The forewings are grassy green in E. insulana and
pea green with a wedge shaped white band running
from base to outer margin in E. vitella.
Larva is about 20 mm long, spiny, brownish with white
streaks dorsally and pale yellow ventrally in E.vitella and greenish white with black
marks and orange spots on prothorax in E. insulana.
Damage
The caterpillars cause damage by boring into the
growing shoots, buds, flowers and bolls.
The attacked shoots wither, droop and ultimately die,
and flowers and buds drop off.
Infested bolls do not shed, open prematurely and the
quality of the lint is spoiled due to rot setting.
Sometimes pupation takes place in the bolls itself
impairing the development of bolls.
Cultural Control
Plough deeply to expose resting pupae.
Avoid use of nitrogen fertilizers at the reproductive stage.
Use resistant varieties
Planting trap crop of bhendi, uprooting and burning it when the larval population
reaches its peak reduces infestation.
Don't extend the crop period.
Mechanical Control
Collection and destruction of plant debris and trash before sowing.
Collection and destruction of infested bolls.
Set-up pheromone traps @ 10/ha for monitoring the ETL and timing of spray.
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Set up bird perches.
Biological Control
Release egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis, T. brasiliensis, and larval parasitoids
Chelonus blackburni or Bracon brevicornis or Apanteles sp. at 35 to 70 days.
Conserve and encourage the activity of the spiders Thomisus sp. and Neosiana sp.
Chemical Control
Spray insecticides like endosulfan 35 EC or triazophos 40 EC @2.5 l/ha or cypermethrin
10 EC @ 600-800 ml/ha.
Avoid use of conventional sprays repeatedly. Use neem based insecticides like 5% neem
seed kernel extract (NSKE) and commercial neem based formulations @ 500-600 ml/ha,
starting from 45 days age of the crop or when ETL is reached.
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Jassids (Amrasca biguttula biguttula)
Identification & Monitoring
Pest attacks the crop during 1-50 days age and
attack is severe during winter.
Adults are about 3 mm long and greenish
yellow during summer whereas they develop
reddish tinge during winter. The hind portion of
the forewings has two black spots on the
vertex.
Nymphs are greenish yellow and wedge
shaped.
The eggs are laid into the parenchymatous tissue of the leaves.
Nymph and adult stages last for 7-21 days and 35-50 days respectively. There are a total
of 7-8 generations in a year.
Damage
Both adults and nymphs suck sap from the underside of the leaves and devitalize the
plants.
Leaves turn pale, red rust, curls downwards and dry up when infestation is severe.
Cultural Control
Sow the crop early.
Use resistant varieties such as Khandwa-2 or the varieties having leaves rich in tannin
contents.
Do not use high doses of "N" fertilizers.
Grow cowpea/onion/soybean as an intercrop in cotton to reduce early stage pest.
Use okhra as trap crop.
Adopt proper crop rotation.
Summer deep ploughing to expose soil inhabitating insects.
Remove and destroy crop residues/alternate host plants.
Mechanical Control
Use yellow sticky traps.
Hand picking and destruction of various insect stages.
Destruction of affected plant parts.
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Destruction of stressed floral bodies.
Destruction of resettled flowers.
Installation of bird perches: "T" shape wooden/bamboo sticks @ 50/ha should be
erected for encouraging predatory birds like king crow, mynah and blue jay.
Biological Control
Release predator Chrysoperla carnea or Coccinella septumpunctata or Syrphus /
Scymnus sp.
Conserve spiders Distina albida and ants like Camponotus sp.
Chemical Control
Apply chemical pesticides only if pest population crosses the ETL.
Spray methyl demeton 25 EC or dimethoate 30 EC.
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Cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii)
Identification & Monitoring
Pest is active from June-October and February-April.
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects with a pair of tubular
structures. Aphids live in colonies and reproduce
parthenogeneticlly.
Nymphs are light yellowish green, or greenish black or
brownish. Nymphal period lasts for 7-9 days.
Adults are mostly wingless, but few winged forms can also be
seen with thin transparent wings. Adults live for 12-20 days.
Females are either lay eggs or directly produce young ones
which mature in about 7 days, hence population increases
very fast.
Leaves appear shiny and sticky due to honey dew excreted by the insects.
later, sooty mold grow on honey dew and leaves have a black coating.
Cool weather and humid conditions favour the rapid growth, while heavy rains wash
away the aphid colonies.
Optimal temperature is 25-30 deg C. Low light is favourable whereas strong light
reduces longevity. *15-20% affected plants counted randomly or appearance of honey
dew on 50% plants
Damage
Both adults and nymphs suck sap from the tender
leaves, twigs and buds, and weaken the plants.
Leaf crumbling and downwards curling
Each aphid makes several punctures and excretes
honeydew which encourages development of sooty
mold on twigs and leaves and this leaves a blackened
look of the plants.
Honeydew attracts ants and sooty mold aids in the
development of pathogenic bacteria.
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Cultural Control
Avoid late sowing and excessive use of "N" fertilizers.
Destroy infested shoots during early stages.
Mechanical Control
Handpicking and destruction of various insect stages and the affected plant parts.
Biological Control
Release predator Chrysoperla carnea or Coccinella septumpunctata or Syrphus /
Scymnus sp.
Conserve spiders Distina albida and ants like Camponotus sp.
Chemical Control
Seed treatment with imidacloprid (5 g/kg seed) keeps the crop free of sucking pests over
a month.
Apply chemical pesticides only if pest population crosses the ETL.
Spray chemicals dimethoate 30 EC or methyl demeton 25 EC @ 500-700 ml/ha when the
population reached ETL.
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Thrips (Thrips Tabaci)
Identification & Monitoring
The pest is active from May- September.
The adults are slender, yellowish brown, 1 mm long.
The tip of the abdomen is curved and abdominal
segments are transversely banded with dark brown
lines.
Males are wingless and females have a long narrow
strap like wings, fringed with hairs.
Nypms are smaaler in size and blackish in colour.
The eggs are laid in slits in leaf tissues; eggs hatch in 5
days time, nymphal and pupal period lasts for 5 and 4-
6 days, respectively.
The adults survive for 2-4 weeks.
High temperature with low rainfall favors multiplication.
Damage
The nyphms and adults suck sap from the lower surface of leaves lacerating the leaf
tissues.
The upper side of the older leaves turn brown and the lower side becomes silvery white.
Leaves become curled, wrinkled and finally get dried.
Cultural Control
Avoid Late sowing.
Grow cowpea/onion/soybean as an intercrop in cotton to reduce early stage pest.
Deep ploughing in summer and weed free field and surroundings.
Grow certified acid delinted seeds of tolerant varieties.
Removal of alternate host plants like kangni and ambadi.
Biological Control
Encourage the activity of parasitoids Thripoctenus briu, Triphleps tantilus and mite
Campsid sp.
Release Trichogramma Chilonis 1.5 lacs/ha and Chrysoperella grubs @ 1-2 plants.
Release Chrysoperla cornea @ 2 larvae/plant in early stage of the plant and 4
larvae/plant in later stage.
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Release Cheilomenes sexmaculata @ 1.5 lakh adults/ha at random on crop canopy.
Chemical Control
Apply NSKE 5% (neem seed kernel extract) to control sucking pests.
Apply methyl demton 25 EC @ 1500 ml/ha; or
Trizophos 40 EC @ 1500 ml/ha; or
Dimethoate 30 EC @ 750 ml/ha; or
Cartap hydrochloride @ 50 SP @ 1000 g/ha; or
Etho fenprox 10 EC @ 1000 gm/ha
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White Fly (Bemisia Tabaci)
Identification & Monitoring
The pest occur throughout the year. Generally infests
the crop from November to February.
Nymphs and adults are sluggish creatures, clustered
together on the under surface of the leaves.
Nymphs are pale yellow and adults are yellowish with
white waxy coating on the body.
The hind wings are prominently long.
Eggs are laid singly on the under surface of the leaves.
Routinely check all parts of all fields for whiteflies
using adult and nymph scouting methods.
When populations exceed the thresholds, treat them
where needed.
Be especially alert for rapid whitefly buildup when nearby host crops are in decline.
Sticky traps may be useful for detecting whitefly movement into cotton fields.
Timely insecticide treatment prevents outbreaks and reduces the chance of sticky
cotton and yield loss. Always use action thresholds for insecticide application.
Damage
The nymphs and adults feed on the cell sap, reduce the
vitality of the plant interfering with normal
photosynthesis due to the excretion of honeydew and
formation of sooty mold all the over surface of the leaf
and lints of opened bolls resulting in process of
blackening.
Chlortic spots develop on leaves and in severe cases the
vein becomes translucent, thickened and in many cases it
drops off prematurely.
Sooty mold contaminates the lint.
The insects help in transmitting and spreading of leaf curl
virus (CLCV) disease.
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Cultural Control
Avoid late sowing and adopt crop rotation with crop which is not the host of white fly
wherever crop rotation is recommended.
Use resistant varieties K-2.
Cultivate alternate host crops such as tomato and castor on the boundaries to trap and
destroy them.
Mechanical Control
Set up yellow pan sticky traps at various places at the canopy height in field.
Remove and destroy crop residues after last picking.
Removal of alternate host plants like kangni and ambadi.
Biological Control
Encourage activities of parasitiods like Encarsia shafeei or Eretmocerous mundus.
Release predators such as Chrysoperla Carea or Melachilus Sexaculatus or Coccinella
septampunctata or Brumus sp. or Scymnus sp.
Release Chrysoperla cornea @ 2 larvae/plant in early stage of the plant and 4
larvae/plant in later stage.
Release Cheilomenes sexmaculata @ 1.5 lakh adults/ha at random on crop canopy.
Spray neem products 1500 ppm.
Chemical Control
Apply insecticide monocrotophos 36 WSC or Quinalphos 25 EC or methyl demeton 25 C
or aephate or trizophos or profenophos at fortnightly intervals.
The application of syntheic pyrethroids (cypermethrin or decamethrin) be restricted or
used in rotation with conventional insecticides.
Apply Neem oil + Teepol @3-3.5 litres + 500 ml/ha.
Apply fish oil resin soap @1.4-1.5 kg/ha.
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Foliage and Shoot Feeders
Bihar hairy caterpillar (Diacrisia obliqua Walker)
Identification & Monitoring
This pest is a minor pest
The pest is active during July-November.
The adult moths are dull yellow and are profusely
covered with hairs, pale buff
crimson abdomen with black spots.
The caterpillars are gregarious in nature, brownish
orange to yellow, 40-45 mm long and with hairy head.
Eggs are laid in clusters on the under surface of leaves
and pupation takes place in soil or in plant debris in
cocoons.
The life cycle is completed in 6-12 weeks.
Damage
Caterpillars feed on the leaves voraciously and defoliate the plants, leaving only the
mid-ribs and veins in severe cases.
Cultural Control
Planting of castor crop along the borders.
Mechanical Control
Collection and destruction of egg masses.
Mechanical removal of young larvae, up to 10-14 days of age.
Biological Control
Release larval parasite Apanteles diacrisiae.
Chemical Control
Dust the crop with methyl parathion 2% or malathion 5% @30 kg/ha OR Spray the crop
with Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ @ 1.5 lit/ha or endosulfan 35EC @1.25 lit/ha.
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