Insect Pests of Vegetable, Ornamental and Spice Crops (2+1)

Painted bugs

8. Painted bugs, Bagrada cruciferarum and Eurydema pulchrum (Pentatomidae: Hemiptera)

Distribution: India, Srilanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, East Africa, South East Asia.

Host range:

• These bugs are important pests of cruciferous crops at flowering and podding stage.
• Has also been reported from Maize, Bajra, Black gram, Vigna mungo, etc

Identification:

Bagrada crucifererum:

Eurydema pulchrum:

Damage:

• Both nymphs and adults suck cell sap from the leaves and the developing pods which gradually wilt and dry up.
• On leaves palish or whitish markings appear and later on these leaves turn brown.
• In case of severe infestation, the seed formation is reduced.
• The nymphs and adults also excrete a sort of resinous material which spoils the pods.

Life cycle:

• Incubation period is 2-5 days
• Nymphal period is 18-20 days.
• Adult longevity is 16-18 days
• Total life cycle was completed in 21-27 days
• Pre-oviposition period is about one week.
• Each female can lay on an average 230 eggs @ 15-20 eggs per day.
• There can be 6-8 generations in a year

Salient features:

• Appears March-April and peak activity coincides with pod formation stage.
• In Haryana the pest remains active throughout the year with two peaks (October-November and March-April)
• The eggs are laid singly or in batches of 2-12 on leaves, stems and flower buds
• The incidence is negatively correlated with RH and positively correlated with temperature.
• Mating takes place immediately after final nymphal molt

Management:

• These bugs can breed on a number of weeds, so clean cultivation is imperative to avoid infestation.
• The pest can also be controlled by spraying the crop with oxy-demeton methyl (0.025%) or malathion (0.05%) or permethrin (0.008%) or fenvalerate (0.01%) or deltamethrin (0.0028%) or dimethoate (0.03%).
• Observe 7-10 days waiting period