Dr. Mohammad Sajjad15 Dec 2014.

Lahore. Pakistan

Introduction.

Biology & Life cycle .

Identification & Isolation of Caterpillars .

How to Identify Affected or Damaged Plants.

Field Rearing of W-PSB .

Field Experimentation for Control of (W-PSB).

Control Options of W-PSB

there is a wide spread attack of Pink Stem Borer (PSB) in wheat growing areas , now a days.

Please carefully examine wheat crop young plants... if central shoot (dead hearts) & side leaf whorl is dried or yellowed, then please do

not confuse it with nitrogen deficiency or abiotic stress

just split open the stem and see inside the stem near bottom end, below soil level, a healthy pink larava will say you good morning.

I have personally observed it in Lahore , Sheikhupura, Sahiwal, Okara, Depalpur, Mian Chanu, Khanewal, Pakpatan, Arifwala, Haveli Lakha, BasirPur etc

• Pink Stem Borer (Sesamia inference)

• Phylum – Arthropoda

• Class – Insecta

• Order – Lepidoptera

• Family – Noctuidae

• Genus – Sesamia

• Species – inference

• The larva is pinkish in colour, without stripes.

• A fully grown caterpillar is cylindrical with its head red-brown in colour and measures 20-25 mm in length.

• it have tough & sharp mandibles.

• You will find these larvae in the

bottom of wheat seedling stem,

near or below soil level.

Detailed camera photos ahead

• The adult moth is small, stout and straw colored, measuring about 28 mm in wing expands.

The damage to the wheat crop is mainly caused by the caterpillars.

The caterpillars bores into the stem and feed upon the tissues of the central shoot.

The infected plant produces “dead heart” or “white ear heads”.

Detailed camera photos ahead

Life cycle is completed in about 40-70 days, depending upon the climatic conditions.

There are 4-6 generations in a year. The eggs are laid in clusters in several rows within the cover

of the leave sheath. The eggs are rounded, pale and yellowish green in colour. The larvae after hatching bore into the stem and feed upon

the tissues of the stem. It pupates inside the stem itself. The egg stage lasts for about 7-10 days, larvae for 20-30

days and pupal stage for 8-10 days.

• In Pakistan this pest was usually aminor pest of rice crop.

• Now this pest has also moved to wheat crop in Pakistan.

• It is already a serious pest of wheat and Rabi all over India & Sub-continent.

• The early stages of this pest are highly damaging to crops.

• Maize, Bajra, Barley and Sorghum are also sometimes attacked by this pest.

Please

to PART - 2 of this Presentation