Insect Pests of Fruit, Plantation, Medicinal & Aromatic Crops (2+1)

3. Shoot borer

3. Shoot borer Clumetia transversa Walk. (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera)

Damage

• The caterpillar bores into the tender shoots from top to downwards make a characteristic tunnel to a depth of 5-6 inches.
• The damage resulted in stunting of whole seedling with individual twigs showing a peculiar terminal bunchy appearance.
Bionomics

• The adult moth is greyish with dark grey wing having wavy designs.
• The eggs are laid singly and they hatch in 2-3 days.
• The larva is dark pink with dark brown pro - thoracic shield.
• It pupates in soil on the damaged shoot.