PESTS OF GROUNDNUT :: Major Pests :: Bud Borer

10.  Bud borer: Anarsia ephippias (Gelechiidae: Lepidoptera)

Damage symptoms: The larva bores into the terminal buds and shoots.  The tender leaflets emerging from central spindle shows shot-hole symptoms initially.  In severe infestation emerging leaflets have only the midribs or several oblong feeding holes.  The larva also bores into the apex of the stem.  The infestation causes 20-35% shoot damages and yield reduction to the tune of 5%. 

Bionomics: The adult moth is buff coloured, active and hovers around plant canopy during sun rise.  The larva is chocolate brown to dark brown and 10-15 mm long.

Management

1. Conserve the hymenopteran parasitoids Bracon sp., and Brachymeria sp. in the groundnut ecosystem to control the pest.
2. Spray neem oil 3% or Notchi (Vitex negundo) leaf extract 5%.
3. Spray endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml or indoxacarb 500 ml or spinosad 45 SC 160-220 ml per ha in 375-500 L of water per ha