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

1. Fruit borer - Heterographis (= Anonaepestis) bengalella Rogonot. (Phycitidae: Lepidoptera)

Damage

• The larva bores into the fruits making irregular tunnels.
• The development of fruits is arrested and fruits fall down.
• The bore holes on fruits are plugged with excreta.
Bionomics

• The female moth lays eggs singly in the sutures or on the peduncle of immature fruits.
• The egg period is 4-5 days.
• The larva bores inside the fruits.
• The larval period is 12-19 days.
• It pupates in the tunnels within the fruits.
• The pupal period lasts in 12 days.
Management

• Collect and destroy damaged fruits.
• Spray thiodicarb 2 ml/ litre or malathion 0.1% two times once at flower formation and second at fruit set.