PESTS OF SAFFLOWER :: Major Pests :: Safflower Caterpiller

1. Safflower Caterpillar: Perigea capensis (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera)

Distribution and status: Serious pest of safflower throughout India

Bionomics: The adult is a dark-brown medium-sized moth with white wavy markings on the forewings. The full grown caterpillar is about 25 mm long, smooth, greenish with purple markings and humped on the anal segment. A female lays about 60 eggs singly or in small clusters on leaves and stems. The eggs hatch in 4-5 days. The larva grows feeding on the leaves and becomes full-grown in 2-3 weeks. It pupates in the soil for 10- I 5 days.

Damage symptoms: The larvae feed on the leaves and defoliate the plants which lose their vigour and become stunted.

Management: Spray the crop with 2.5 kg of carbaryl 50 WP or 1.25 L of endosulfan 35 EC in 750 L of water/ha.