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

1. Shoot and fruit borer

1. Shoot and fruit borer - Margaronia caesalis Wlk.(Pyraustidae : Lepidoptera)

Damage

• The larva bore into tender shoots, flower buds and developing fruits.
• As a result of attack, wilting of affected shoot, buds dries up and drop down while the fruit start rotting.
• The fallen fruits due to borer damage also serve as a source of the pathogen entry
Bionomics

• The adult moth is brown with grey elliptical patterns on the wings.
• It lays eggs on tender shoot and flower buds.
• The caterpillar is pink with black wart and bright hairs.
• It pupates inside the tunnel.
• The pupae are reddish brown.
• The total life cycle is about 4-5 weeks
Management

• Remove and destroy the affected shoots, flower buds and fruits in the initial stage of the attack.
• Cover the fruits with perforated alkathene bags of convenient size.
• Spray monocrotophos 36 WSC 2ml/ litre or carbaryl 50 WP 0.1 %,4gms
• Spray copper oxychloride at 0.25 % to check if there is fruit rot incidence