Insect Pests of Oil seeds

Dr. M. Thippaiah Professor Dept. of Entomology College of Agriculture GKVK, UAS Bangalore- 65

Major oil seed crops grown in Karnataka are

Ground nut

Castor

Sun flower

Safflower

Sesamum

Mustard

Identification of Insect pests of Ground nut and their damage symptoms

Ground nut is an important oil seed crop in South India and every year grown in an area of 12.8 lakh ha

It was grown both in irrigated and rainfed condition

The damages caused by insect pests of ground both in the field as well as in storage are enormous

An annual loss due to insect pests problems is estimated to be around Rs 1500 million

In India, about 115 insect pests species cause damage, of which only 10 – 15 species are found to be economically important

The important insects pests recorded on ground nut are

1. Leaf miner : Aproaerema modicella2. Hairy caterpillars a) Red headed hairy caterpillar : Amsacta alibistriga A. Moorei b) Black headed hairy caterpillar : Spilarctia obliqua3. Tobacco caterpillar : Spodoptera litura 4. Gram pod borer : Helicoverpa armigera

I . Leaf feeders or Defoliators

II: Sap feedersAphids : Aphis craccivora

Leaf hopper : Empoaca kerri

Pod bug : Elasmolomus sordidus

Thrips : Scirtothrips dorsalis

II . Subterranean pests

Termites : Odontotermies obesus

White grub : Holotrichia serrata

Ants : Dorylus orientalis

III . Subterranean pests

IV. Borer pests

Pod borer : Anisolabis annulipes

Stem borer : Sphenoptera perotetti

Bud borer : Anarsia ephippias

Termites : Odontotermies obesus

White grub : Holotrichia serrata

Ants : Dorylus orientalis

Defoliators

Ground nut leaf miner: Aproaerema modicella ( Gelechidae : Lepidoptera ) Adult is a tiny moth, measures about 1 cm in wing expanse greyish brown in colour

Wings fringed and dark greyish brown in colour

Yellowish white spot on the costal margin of each wing

Hind wings are small and covered with fringe of minute hairs

Early instars larvae acts as leaf miner, First mines the leaf feeding on mesophyll tissue As the feeding advances, the mines increases in size and the entire leaf lets become brown, rolls, shrivels and finally produces blotches.

Life cycle of the pestEggs : are small laid singly on the tender shoots and leaf lets Each female moth lays – 150-200 eggs, I.P-2-3 daysLarva : Caterpillar very small, delicate and measures about 0.5cm, smooth bodied and green in colour with dark coloured head and prothorax L.P- 9 - 17 daysPupa : The full grown larva pupate within the leaf fold or within webbed leaflets P.P – 5-8 days

Symptoms of damage Young larvae initially mine into the leaflets, feed on the mesophyll and form small brown blotches on the leaf.

Later stages larvae web the leaflets together and feed on them, remaining within the folds. Severely attacked field looks "burnt" from a distance.

Later stages of the larvae 2-3 leaves web together and feeds on green matter as a result, the leaves become brown and dry up

In severe infestation

The leaves completely dry up and burnt up appearance

The vigour of the plant is lost

The pod filling is not good

The rainfed crop suffers the maximum damage in July – August where as the irrigated crop suffers the maximum damage in Feb – March and bunchy type of varieties are more susceptibleLoss – 49 % avoidable loss 92 % loss in severe case Endemic areas of this pestDry tracts of Chintamani, Pandavapura area, Ramdurga, Bijapur, Badami, Chitradurga

I. Hairy Caterpillarsa. Red headed hairy caterpillar: 1. Amsacta albistriga ( Arctiidae : Lepidoptera)

• Adults are medium sized moths • Fore wings are white with brown streaks all over the wing

• Yellowish streak along the anterior margin of the fore wing

• Hind wings are white with with black markings

• A prominent yellow band is found on the head

• Predominant in South India

Amsacta moorei

Fore wings and hind wings are white in colour with dark markings The red streak along the anterior margin of the fore wing A prominent red band is found on the head Predominant in North India

Life cycle of the pestEgg: Eggs are cream coloured or bright yellow in colour and laid in groups or in clusters on the available host plants or occasionally on the vegetation, clods of the earth, stones, dry twigs etc., Each female lays – 600 – 700 eggs Maximum – 2300 eggs/ female I.P – 3-4 days Larva : passes 7 instars Hairy caterpillar reddish brown with black band on either end and having reddish brown hair all over the body, L.P – 25-40 days

Pupa : the grown up larvae burrow the moist soil and pupate in the earthen soil P.P- 9-10 days

Nature and symptoms of damage The larvae hatch from the eggs feed gregariously by scarping the green matter or skeletonization on the under surface of the young leaflets leaving the upper epidermal layer intact Later feed voraciously on the leaves leaving the petiole and midribs and main stem of the plants They march from field to field in a gregarious manner The affected field appear as if grazed by cattle

Alternate hosts : Sorghum, Cotton, Ragi, Castor, Cowpea, Sunflower, Sesamum etc.,

b.Bihar hairy caterpillar: Spilarctia obliqua ( Arctiidae : Lepidoptera )

Adult is a medium sized moth pale buff in colour with black spots

Body is crimson and black spotted

Eggs : are laid in groups of 40-60 on the under surface of the leaves Each female lays 500 – 1300eggs I.P – 3-4 days

Larva: the fully grown caterpillar is hairy and orange in colour with two ends are black in colour L.p – 14-20 Days

Pupa : pupation takes place in soil or dried leaves

P.P- 16-22 days

The cocoon and pupa,

Early instars feed gregariously by scraping the green matter as a result skeletonization The grown up instars feed on entire leaves causes defoliation

Nature and symptom of damage

Tobacco caterpillar: Spodoptera litura ( Noctuidae : Lepidoptera )

Adult is a medium sized moth

FW – are brown in colour with zigzag white markings

HW – are white in colour with brown patch along the margin

Eggs are laid in masses and covered by body hair and laid on ventral surface of the leaf.

After December particularly after heavy rains, heavy infestation develops

Larvae is polyphagous and appear on ground nut crop both in vegetative phase at the time of pod formation

Nature of damage

Larva fed on the leaf

Early instars are gregarious and feed on chlorophyll tissues and cause skeletonization

Later instars they disperse and feed on leaf voraciously and damaged fields looks like grazed by cattle. The larvae of 2nd and 3rd instar enter the ground pods by making a hole near calyx and feed on ground nut seed

Gram pod borer: Heliocoverpa armigera ( Noctuidae : Lepidoptera )

Adult moth Caterpillar

Caterpillar feed on the leaves Mostly seen from November on wards when ground nut plant enters in to reproductive phase Caterpillar feed on the leaves irregularly and thus causes defoliation Later feeds on flowers and flower buds

Caterpillar feed on the flower buds

Sap feeders

Ground nut Aphid : Aphis craccivora ( Aphididae : Hemiptera )

Aphids are reddish to dark brown in colour and large number on tender shoots, leaves and flowers

Biology is greatly influenced by weather

Parthenogenesis and ovoViviparous reproduction are common

Apterous and winged forms are also common

Nature and symptoms of damage

Both nymphs adults suck the sap from leaf lets and tender shoots. It results in wilting of tender leaves/ shoots, particularly during hot weather.

Leaves are mottled with chlorotic or dark green spots and plants get stunted.

Honey dew deposition can be observed, which attracts ants.

It is the vector of Ground nut rosette disease or Mosaic virus

Leaf hopper: Empoasca kerri ( Cicadellidae : Hemiptera )

This is a elongate hopper with wedge shaped body, yellowish green in colour found on the undersurface of the leaf.

Nature of damage

Both nymphs and adults suck the sap from undersurface of leaf and causes yellowing of leaf margin / leaf lets which finally leads to ‘hopper burn’ symptom

Heavy infestation can cause stunting and yellowing near leaf tips.

Thrips : Scirtothrips dorsalis ( Thripidae : Thysanoptera )

Adults are black in colour and nymphs are yellowish in colour

Nature of damage

Both nymphs and adults lacerate the leaves and suck the sap. Affected parts show yellowish green patches on under surface of the leaves and brown necrotic areas with silvery streak on the lower surface

Transmits : Peanut bud necrosis virus (PBNV)

Symptoms Older/ lower leaves show white marks/ white spots which are intermingled with black excreta on the upper surface

Pod sucking bug : Elasmolomus sordidus ( Lygaeidae : Hemiptera )

This is a active brown coloured bug, measures 8 mm long, which attack the pods in the store but also attack the pods in the fieldi.e Field and storage pest.

Nature of damage

Both adults and nymphs suck the oil from the kernels making them unfit for use

This pest common in South India and occasionally occurring as a serious pest

The bug hides within rubbish heaps of semidry leaves

It is a “post harvest pest of ground nut.”

Subterranean pests

Termites : Odontotermes obesus ( Termitidae : Isoptera )

Reproductive formsWorker caste

They attack tap root system and make it hollow as a result

Wilting and

Premature death of plant

They also attack the pods and scarifies i.e. it feeds on outer surface of the pods as a results predisposes by the fungi and development of aflotoxin.

Feeds on outer surface of the pods

White grub: Holotrichia serrata ( Scarabeidae : Coleoptera )

Eggs and larvaMatured larva

Early instars, translucent white in colour, first instars feed on organic matter, Fully fed larvae 5 cm in length grey in colour with dark brown hairs. Second and subsequent instars feed on root lets

Grubs feed on nodules and fine rootlets as a result of which the plants become pale in colour and wilted in appearance and ultimately dry up Wilted plants do not have tap root and rootlets

Red ant : Dorylus orientalis ( Formicidae : Hymenoptera )

It bores in to the pods and feeds on the kernels and damage is similar to damage caused by ear wigs Control measures Application of soil insecticides

Borer pests

Pod borer ( Ear wig ) : Anisolabis annulipes ( Euborellia stali) ( Forficulidae : Dermaptera)

It is a pest of ground nut in South IndiaDistribution : it is distributed in TN and Karnataka In Karnataka, especially coastal districts like South canara and North Canara this pest is common

Adult is a dark brown to black coloured insect with forceps like caudal cerci and leg joints are white in colour

Eggs : are laid in clusters of 20 – 100 in soil or in the pods I.P – 1 week Nymphs : there are five nymphal instars resembles the adults can live for as many as 250 days The life cycle occupies 60-70 days

Earwigs, Euborellia stali bore into the tender pods and feed on kernels. The holes are plugged with excreta, sand particles and discoloured pulp. It is difficult to separate out damage caused by earwig from that caused by wire-worms and termites and more often the damage by these insects is attributed to earwig-pest. The semi-spreading and spreading varieties are found more susceptible than the bunch varieties

Damaged seeds

Control measuresApplication of malathion 5 % @ 25 kg / ha prior to sowing in areas where the ear wig is endemic Repeat the soil application of above dust formulation on 40 days of sowing and incorporate in the soil during earthing up

Stem borer: Sphenoptera perotetti ( Buprestidae : Coleoptera )

This is an important pest of ground nut in south IndiaAdult : is an dark brown jewel beetle about 1 cm long, flat and oval in shape

Eggs : are laid on the main stem closed to ground level in 15 – 20 days I.P – 4-5 days Grubs : The fully grown grubs measures 2.5 – 3 cm in length pale colour with white coloured head L.P – 30 - 35 daysPupa : Pupation takes place with in larval tunnel in stem itself P.P – 10-12 days

Grub bores in to the stem Infested plant

On hatching grub bores in to the branches and stem and gets in the main root and make tunneling by feeding As a result death of the plants and such plants are pulled they come up easily SymptomsBranches may droop and plants show wilting and drying

Control measuresApplication of malathion 5 % @ 25 kg / ha prior to sowing

Repeat the soil application of above dust formulation on 40 days of sowing and gypsum application

Groundnut Bud borer : Anarsia ephippias ( Gelechiidae : lepidoptera)

This pest occurs in northern India, and is normally considered to be a minor pest. The adult moth is buff coloured, active and hovers around plant canopy during sunriseFully grown larvae are chocolate brown in color.

Nature of damage Larvae bore into terminal buds and shoots and prevents further growth of plants. The tender leaf lets emerging from central spindle shows shot hole symptoms initially In severe infestation emerging from leaf lets have only mid ribs or several oblong feeding holes It can also tunnel into the stems. As the crop damage is not significant, no management practice is needed. Control measures 1. To conserve the hymenopteran parasitoides like Bracon sp. and Brachymeria sp. 2. Spray the crop with neem oil 3 % 3. Spray the crop with indoxacarb @ 500 ml or spinosad 45 SC @ 160 – 220 ml / ha

Identification of Insects pests of Castor and their damage symptoms

In India more than 107 species of insects and 6 species of mites are recorded on Castor at different phenological stages of the crop. Out of these major insect pests are I. Borer pest of CastorCastor shoot and capsule borer – Conogethes punctiferalis II. Leaf feeders / Defoliators1.Castor semilooper : Achaea janata2.Tobacco caterpillar : Spodoptera litura3.Red headed hairy caterpillar : Amsacta albistriga4.Castor slug caterpillar : Latoia lepida5.Castor wooly bear : pericallia ricini6.Castor butter fly : Ergolis merione7.American serpentine leaf miner : Liriomyza trifolii

III. Sucking pests1.Leaf hopper : Empoasca flavescens2.Thrips : Scirtothrips dorsalis3.White fly : Trialeurodes ricini

IV. Non insect pest Red spider mite : Tetranychus telaerius

I. Borer pest of Castor

Castor shoot and capsule borer : Conogethes punctiferalis ( Pyralidae : Lepidoptera )

It is a regular pest of castor

It attacks variety of host plants and causes different types of damages when it attacks

Castor and cardamom – shoot and capsule borer

Sorghum – Ear head borer

Mango – Inflorescence caterpillar

Ginger – Rhizome borer

Guava, Peach, Jack, Tomato- Fruit borer

Similar to fruit sucking moth it has suctorial proboscis- piercing juice

Adult is a small sized bright yellow / orange coloured moth with numerous black spots on both the pair of wings

Eggs : are laid in groups of up to 6 on inflorescence and capsules as well as other tender parts of the plant I.P – 3-6 days

Larva : there are 5 larval instars and measures about 2.5 to 3cm in length, pinkish brown in colour with numerous tubercles on the body L.P – 12-16 days

Pupa : pupation takes place in side the stem in silken cocoon or inside the capsules P.P – 6-7 daysAdult longevity – 5-10 daysThe pest appears from flowering stage up to maturity stage

Newly hatched larva feeds on greenish coloured capsules in between warts Later bores in to the capsules and feeds on developing seeds

It webs the capsules along with excreta and frass

Larva also bores into tender shoots and attached inflorescence There by killing the terminal shoots.

Nature and symptoms of damage

Symptoms of damage Capsule with bored holes Damaged capsules webbed together

Peduncle and capsules showing galleries made of silk and frass

Incidence starts from early September and reaches peak during November Incidence decline during January GSH- 3 almost 84 % seed damage by this borer in Gujarat In Gujarat – 40-50 % of area are covered by Castor crop

Management practices Avoid growing varieties which are having compact inflorescence

Mechanical collection and destruction of attacked shoots and seed capsuleChemical control – Initiate chemical sprays at the time of flowering primary spikes Spray methyl parathion 50 EC @ 1 ml / lit. of water or Dust with methyl parathion 2 % D @ 10 kg / acre or Spray – quinalphos @ 2 ml / lit. of water or dimethoate @ 2 ml / lit. of water

II. Leaf feeders / Defoliators

Castor semilooper : Achaea janata ( Noctuidae : Lepidoptra )

Adult is a stout bodied, greyish-brown colored moth with wavy lines on the fore wings Hind wings are white with black patches or markings

Host plants : Castor, Rose, Pomegranate, Tea, Tridax procumbens, Euphorbia hirta, E. hypercifolia

It is a specific pest of Castor

Eggs : Female moths lays 400-500 eggs scattered all over the ventral surface of the plant I.P – 3-4 days

Larva : is a semilooper , body grey / black in colour with red or white lateral stripes, fully-grown larva about 6-7cm longLarva will be camouflage with colour of the crop canopy. Colour pattern of 3rd and 4th instar larva is variable. Some time if larva with red stripes. It is semilooper i.e non functioning of first pair of prolegs L.P – 20-25 days

Pupa : pupation takes place on the plant or in leaf litter or in soil with the help of cocoon P.P – 10-25 days

Nature of damage First instars nibble on the leaves and second instars make

bite holes on the leaves later instars will eat the leaf completely leaving behind

mid rib. Usually it won’t be attack stem. Severe incidence – Capsule also affected Adult moth – Suck the juice from Citrus fruits also

Serious – July - December

Damage will decline from November on wards

Control measures Hand picking of older larvae during early stages and destroy Provide bird perching points @ 7 to 10 / haBiological controlA number of Hymenopteran parasites attack the pest during the various stages of its life cycleTrichogramma australicum – Egg parasiteApanteles spp.Microplitis maculopennis Larval parasites - @ 2 parasites / plant need not to take up chemical controlChemical control : spray methyl parathion 50 EC @ 1 ml / lit. of water or Dust 2 % methyl parathion @ 10-15 kg / acre or Spray the crop with quinalphos @ 2 ml / lit. of water or chlorpyriphos @ 2 ml / lit. of water or monocrotophos @ 1.5 ml / 2 ml / lit. of water

Tobacco caterpillar : Spodoptera litura ( Noctuidae : Lepidoptera )

It is found throughout the tropical and subtropical parts of the world, wide spread in India. Besides tobacco, it feeds on cotton, castor, groundnut, tomato, cabbage and various other cruciferous crops.

Damage symptoms: The early instar larvae feed gregariously on the under surface of the leaf by scrapping green chlorophyll tissues and cause skeletonization Later they disperse, become solitary and nocturnal and cause complete defoliation They also feed on the flower buds, flowers. ( Control measures refer under tobacco)

Red headed hairy caterpillar : Amsacta albistriga ( Arctiidae : Lepidoptera )

Damage symptoms: Scrap the under surface of leaves when they are in neonate stage.

The scrapped patches of the leaves becomes thin and papery

Full grown larvae devours entire foliage and flowers causing defoliation and affecting fruit setting and often migrate from one field to another devastating whatever crops come their way.

After about 30-40 days of feeding the larvae burrow into soil, usually in the undisturbed soil of field or non-cropped areas and pupate.

( Control measures refer under tobacco

Castor slug caterpillar : Latoia lepida ( Limacodidae : Lepidoptera )

Adult is a medium sized moth with brown coloured wings and a prominent green band at the base of the fore wings

Host plants : Castor, Cocoa, pomegranate, Mango, Wood apple etc.,

Eggs : are laid in groups and covered with hairs and each group contains 20-30 eggs on the under surface of the leaves I.P -6-7 days

Larva : Larva greenish in colour with white lines and four rows of tubercles tipped with red and black colour, ventral surface flat and it moves like a slug

L.P- 40-45 days

Pupa : pupation takes place on the stem or it pupates on the plants in cocoons which are covered with spines and hairs which cause irritation to human skins P.P- 9-10 days

Nature of damage

Larvae feed on the leaves leaving only midrib and veins

Castor wooly bear: Pericallia ricini ( Arctiidae : Lepidoptera )

Adult is a grey coloured moth with dark spots on pinkish hind wings

Alternate hosts : Pumpkin, banana, Gingely, Moringa, beans, cotton etc.,

Eggs : are laid in groups on leaves. Fecundity – more than 140eggs / female I.P – 3-5 daysLarva : the larva blackish brown in colour with red head and long thick hairs arising on the bluish warts found on the body L. P – 4 weeksPupa : Pupation takes place in Cocoons of silken hairs in soil P.P – 7-10 days

The larva blackish brown in colour with red head and long thick hairs arising on the bluish warts found on the body

Caterpillars feed on the leaves and defoliate the plant

They are usually found in colonies, it is naturally parasitized by Apanteles ricini

Castor butter fly: Ergolis merione ( Nymphalidae : Lepidoptera)

Adult is a brownish coloured butter fly with black wavy lines on the wings

It is a specific butter fly pest of castor

Eggs : are spherical, laid singly on the leaves Fecundity- 80 eggs I.P – 4 – 5 days

Larva : Larvae are green in colour with branched spines and yellow stripes on the dorsal side L.P- 17-20 days

Nature of damageLarva feeds on the leaves and remain on the upper surface and thus cause defoliation

Pupa: Chrysalis which hanging from leaves P.P – 7-10 days

Serpentine leaf miner: Liriomyza trifolii (Agromyziidae : Diptera)

Leaf mining damage Leaf miner - Adult

Adult – are small , pale yellow coloured dipteran fly while larva is a tiny yellowish maggotFemale makes small tubular punctures for oviposition and each female can lay about 380 eggs I.P – 2 – 3 daysL.P – 3 - 4 daysPupation occurs out side the leaf mine and some time it occur in the soil or centre of leaf P.P - 5 – 8 days

Nature of damage It occurs on foliage in two ways Female cause ovipositional punctures on the leaf surface with the help of ovipositor before laying eggs

Larva will mine the leaf feed on mesophyll tissues and laying as many as 900 and mines / leaf of castor have been recorded due to this pest in severe cases

In case of severe damage chlorophyll content in foliage may reach as high as 30 % reduction ( Indirect damage)

Control measures

Spray NSKE 4 % or Spray the crop with triazophos @ 2.5 ml / lit. water

Sucking pests of castor

Leaf hopper : Empoasca flavescens (Cicadellidae ; Hemiptera)

Adults are small, wedge shaped hoppers and pale green in colour

Nymphs are yellowish green in colour

Adults as well as nymphs will move diagonally

Nature of damage

Both nymphs and adults suck the sap from the leaf resulting in typical ‘hopper burn’

Initially marginal yellowing of leaves and Later on distortion of veins and leaf curling is observed

The yellow colour of the leaf will change to brown and the margins of leaf become dry and brittle

Due to hopper burn and stunting caused by heavy population as a result in poor development of capsules

Thrips : Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thripidae : Thysanoptera)

It is common on Castor, Ground nut

It is highly polyphagous pest

Adults are minute and yellow and have fringed wings

Nature of damage

Nymphs and adults scrape the leaves, they suck the oozing sap from the leaves, as a result there will be development of white patches

Which later on turn into brown streaks particularly near the veins and midribs as a results in curling of affected areas particularly flowers and later dry up and do not form capsules

White flies : Trialeurodes ricini (Aleyrodidae : Hemiptera )

Adults are small and delicate having yellow body, hyaline wings dusted with waxy powder

Nature of damage Nymphs and adults suck the sap from the leaves affected leaves will curl and dry up and vitality of the plant is reduced

Vegetative growth is arrested resulting in shedding of leaves

It also excretes honey dew which falls on lower leaves as a result sooty mould develops and which inhibits photosynthesis as a result plant remain sick and stunted

Non insect pest

Control measures for Leaf hoppers, thrips and white flies Spray the crop with methyl parathion @ 0.05 % or methyl demeton @ 0.025 % or Phosalone @ 0.05 % or Malathion @ 0.1 % ( 1 ml / lit.)

Red spider mite : Tetranychus telaerius ( Tetranychidae : Acarina )

Fully developed nymphs are microscopic and measuring 0.33mm in length, light brown in colour and 4 pair of legs

Adult mites are 0.52mm in length and 0.33mm in width

There are 6 species of mites are recorded on Castor, out of which important one is Tetranychus telaerius

Nature of damage

All the active stages of mites fed on leaf preferably on ventral surface and breed near stalk in between main veins

It inserts chelcerial stylets in to the leaf tissue and suck the plant juice

Removal of chemicals and other pigmentation results in characteristic blotching is the typical symptom

Infested leaves actually exibit yellow speckled appearance which later on turn brown

Control measures

Growing resistant variteies – RC – 1067, RC- 1069, RC- 1071, RC – 1072

Spray the crop with dicofol @ 2.5 ml / li. Of water

Thank you