Economic Entomology PDF 4th Sem

ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY Credit Hours: 3(2+1) Full Marks: 75 Theory: 50 Practical: 25  COURSE CONTENT Systematic position, distribution, host identification, nature and extent of damage, life cycle and seasonal histories of harmful insect pests associated with different crops...

ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY Credit Hours: 3(2+1) Full Marks: 75 Theory: 50 Practical: 25  COURSE CONTENT Systematic position, distribution, host identification, nature and extent of damage, life cycle and seasonal histories of harmful insect pests associated with different crops Insect pests of cereals and millet crops and their management Insect pests of pulse crops and their management Insect pests of oilseed crops and their management Insect pests of vegetable crops and their management Insect pests of fruit crops and their management  Insect pests of industrial crops, spices & condiments, ornamentals and their management Important storage grain pest and their management Insect vectors and their management Rodent & Vertebrate Pests Introduction and management of medical and veterinary, diseases vectors, polyphagous and soil hibernating insect pests  Basic concept 2nd sem  Chemical methods Introductory Entomology 3rd sem IPM, FFS Insect morphology Principles and Practices of Insect physiology Insect Pest Management 4th sem Insect taxonomy Economic Economic Entomology Bee keeping & Silkworm threshold/economic injury Insect pest of crops production & Lac culture level Rice Different tactics of management Yellow stem borer  Physical methods Systematic position  Mechanical methods Distribution  Cultural methods Host plant  Biological methods Damage symptoms  Host plant resistance Life cycle  Genetic methods Management  Legislative methods  Innovative methods  Rice Insect Pests 1) Classification of rice insect pests based on their damaging characteristics a) Leaf feeding or leaf damaging insects 1. Rice ear cutting caterpillar, Mythimna separate Walk. (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) 2. Rice swarming caterpillar, Spodoptera mauritia Boisd. (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) 3. Rice caseworm, Nymphula depunctalis Guenee (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) 4. Rice leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenee (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) 5. Rice Green Horned Caterpillar, Melanitis leda ismene (Lepidotera : Nymphalidae) 6. Rice Hispa, Dicladispa armigera Oliver ( Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) 7. Rice Field Cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus Degeer (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) 8. Rice Grasshopper, Hieroglyphus banian Fab. (Orthoptera : Acrididae) b) Sap Suckers from Leaf and Leaf Sheath 1. Rice leafhoppers, Nephotettix nigropictus Stal (Homoptera : Cicadellidae) 2. Zig Zag leaf hopper, Recilia dorsalis (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) 3. White rice leaf hopper, Cofana spectra (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) 4. Brown plant hopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Homoptera: Delphacidae) 5. White back plant hopper, Sogatella furcifera (Homoptera: Delphacidae) 6. Rice Mealybug, Brevennia rehi (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) 7. Rice aphid, Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominalis/Macrosiphum avenae (Homoptera: Aphididae) 8. Rice Thrips, Stenochaetothrips biformis / Perrisothrips sp./ Haplothrips sp./ Chloethrips oryzae(Thysanoptera: Thripidae) c) Stem and heart damaging insects 1. Yellow Rice Stem Borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) 2. White Rice Stem Borer, S. innotata (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) 3. Pink borer, Sesamia inferens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) 4. Rice Gall Midge, Orseolia oryzae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) 5. Whorl Maggot, Atherigonna oryzae (Diptera: Muscidae) 6. Stripped Rice Borer, Chilo partellus/ C. Polychrusus/ C. suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) d ) Root damaging insects Mole Cricket, Gryllotalpa africana, (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) Seed Bed Beetle, Heteronychus lioderes (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) e) Flower and grain damaging insects 1. Rice Ear-head Bug, Leptocorisa oratorius (Hemiptera: Alydidae) 2. Rice pollen Beetle, Chiloloba acuta (Coleoptera: Cetonidae) Major insect pests 1) Brown Plant Hopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Homoptera: Delphacidae) 2) Yellow Rice Stem Borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) 3) Rice Ear-head Bug, Leptocorisa oratorius (Hemiptera: Alydidae) 4) Rice Hispa, Dicladispa armigera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) 5) Rice Grasshopper, Hieroglyphus banian (Orthoptera: Acrididae) 6) Rice ear cutting caterpillar, Mythimna separate Walk. (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) 7) Rice caseworm, Nymphula depunctalis Guenee (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) 8 ) Rice leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenee (Lepidoptera : Crambidae) 9) Rice leafhoppers, Nephotettix nigropictus Stal (Homoptera : Cicadellidae)  Minor insect pests 1. Rice Mealybug, Brevennia rehi (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) 2. Pink borer, Sesamia inferens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) 3. Rice Gall Midge, Orseolia oryzae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) 4. Whorl Maggot, Atherigonna oryzae (Diptera: Muscidae) 5. Mole Cricket, Gryllotalpa africana, (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) 6. Seed Bed Beetle, Heteronychus lioderes (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) 7. Rice pollen Beetle, Chiloloba acuta (Coleoptera: Cetonidae) 8. Rice Green Horned Caterpillar, Melanitis leda ismene (Lepidotera : Nymphalidae)  1) Brown planthopper Scientific Name Nilaparvata lugens (Delphacidae: Hemiptera) Identification Crescent shaped white eggs inserted in mid rib or leaf sheath. Adults and nymphs are both brown in color. Adults remain feeding near the base of tillers above water level. Favorable condition for BPH occurrence High humidity, high nitrogen application and no wind the population increases very rapidly. Fig. 1a: Adult of short winged (brachypterous) and long winged brown plant hopper (macropterous) in rice field  Damaging symptoms Damage observed by sucking the sap and plugging xylem and phloem with their feeding sheaths. While checking in the field analyze through yellowing, browning and drying of plants, plant with ragged stunt and grassy stunt disease with honey dew, hopper burn check out through sooty molds at the base. Fig 1b: Nymphs and adults of Fig 1c: Hopper burn in rice field brown plant hopper in rice sheath Fig 1d: Life cycle of brown plant hopper  Management practices Avoid ratoons of the previous rice crop. Use balanced fertilizers (lower nitrogenous fertilizer). Avoid dense planting (20cm*20cm) apart. Drain completely for a week to reduce BPH population. Treat the infested rice crop with insecticide only in the situation when BPH per rice stem is an average more than one. Grow resistant varieties IR26, IR36, IR56, IR64, & IR72. Release natural enemies like green mirid bug, wolf spider. Spray a neem based insecticide eg. Azadiractin @3-5ml per litre of water on the lower part of stem of rice plant. Spray imidacloprid 17.8 SL 125ml/ha or buprofezin (pgr) 25SC 325 ml/ ha.  2) Yellow stem borer Scientific Name Scirpophaga incertulas walker (Pyralidae : Lepidoptera) Identification Male forewings, light brown has two rows of small spots at the tips. In female, yellowish with prominent black spots, anal end of the abdomen of female is covered with tuffs of yellowish silken hairs. Yellowish, head slight yellowish color larvae. Fig 2a : Larvae and adults of yellow stem borer Host plants S.incertulas is a monophagus insects pest and paddy is a single host.  Damaging symptoms Larvae enters a tiller or panicle where its feeding causes the tillers to be stunted or to die this condition is known as dead hearts. White heads observed in reproductive phase of rice in which the panicles bears no grains. Fig 2b : Dead heart Fig 2c : White head in paddy damaged by in paddy damaged YSB in reproductive phase by YSB  Life cycle Eggs Gravid females lay 200-300 eggs in tip of paddy leaves. Eggs are white covered with the tuffs of the hairs. Mostly eggs are hatched in early morning after 5-8 days. Larvae Larval stage extend to 30-40 days. 6 larval stages Larva bore the stem from growing point to downwards. Pupae Pupal stage remains for 6-10 days. Pupation takes place in stem. Adults In a year, there is 4-6 generation of yellow stem borer. Fig 2d: Life cycle of Yellow stem borer  Management practices Clip the seedling tip before transplanting as stem borer lays eggs in the tips of seedling. Introduction of eggs parasitoids (Trichogramma chilonis) 50,000-1,00,000 per ha during peak season control yellow stem borer. Monitor yellow stem borer using the sex pheromone lure in funnel trap @ 1 lure per kattha. If there observed 2 egg masses/ square metre (or) 10% dead heart at vegetative stage (or) 2% white ear at flowering stage. Spray Triazophos 40 EC 0.75 lit / ha or Fipronil 5 SC 0.5 lit/ha alternatively.  3) Rice ear head bug Scientific Name Leptocorisa oratorius Leptocorisa acuta (Rice seed bug) Alydidae: Hemiptera Identification Greenish yellow color Long & Slender in Size There are stink gland on either side of the abdomen that emit foul odour, hence called Gandhi bug. Fig 3a : Rice ear head bug adults  Damaging symptoms Active in reproductive stages of rice mostly in morning and evening. Adults and nymphs sucks the sap of developing rice grains at the milky stage and cause considerable damage. Fig 3b : Shriveled grains, deformed or spotty grains due to rice ear For to diagnosis the feeding damage head bug check the plant small or shriveled grains, deformed or spotty grains, empty grains and erect panicles.  Management practices Removal of alternate host. Netting and handpicking the bugs reduce their numbers. Among the biological control agents, small wasps parasitize the eggs and the meadow grasshoppers prey on them. Both the adults and nymphs of rice ear head bugs are preys to spiders, tiger beetles (Cicindela sexpunctata) and dragonflies. Placement of dirty traps, hanging cattle urine soaked gunny bags or cow urine wrapped cloth in the field to attract insects. If population of rice ear head bug remains above 5 bugs/100 ear heads at flowering and 16 bugs/100 ear heads from milky stage to grain maturity. Spray Nitenpyram 10% SL or Acetamiprid 50% WDG @ 0.5-1 ml /liter in 7 days interval alternatively from flowering to maturity.  4) Grasshopper Scientific Name Hieroglyphus banian Orthoptera : Acridiidae Identification The body is a shiny greenish yellow color with three black lines on its upper side. In the early stages, the young are yellowish, with many reddish brown spots. They become greenish as Fig 4a: Adult of Long Horn they grow older. Grasshopper  Damaging symptoms Both young and adult stages feed upon the leaves and shoots of paddy. They also cut off the ear heads. Fig 4b: Damage leaf by grasshopper  Life cycle Eggs Eggs are laid in soil on the field bunds in the mass of 30 to 40. The hoppers emerge out in the month of June, after the first monsoon. Breeding season is from October to December. Nymphs Nymphs period extend for 2.5 to 3 months of life period. Adults They feed on the leaves of paddy or the grasses on the bunds. The hoppers take 70 Fig 4c: Life cycle of days in case of male and 80 days in case of Hieroglyphus banian females to become sexually mature.  Management practices In early stages of infection, bagging and netting of the hoppers can be done to check their population. Half grown nymphs and hoppers are driven to one corner of the field and are beaten to death. The egg masses are destroyed by ploughing the field and exposing them to birds. Introduction of Scelio hieroglyphi (Gir.) is beneficial since they parasitize the eggs of H. banian. Cut the soil with a spade or rake, especially in rice field bunds & water channels to destroy the egg pods. Spray a pesticide like fenitrothion @ 400 ml/acre or dust fenitrothion @ 12 Kg / acre when the number of grasshoppers is found to be more than 2/ sweep in nursery or 5/ sweep in crop.  5) Rice Hispa Scientific Name Dicladispa armigera, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae Identification Grubs is whitish yellow and flattened. Adult beetle is somewhat square shaped about 1/6 to 1/8” in length and width dark blue or blackish in color with spines all over the body. Fig 5a : Adults of Rice Hispa  Damaging symptoms Irregular translucent white patches that are parallel to the leaf veins caused by tunneling of larvae through leaf tissue causes withering of damaged leaves. Fig 5c : Irregular Fig 5b : Larvae of translucent white Rice Hispa in leaf patches by larvae of Rice Hispa  Life cycle Eggs Eggs are laid inside minute slits on the tender leaves generally toward the tip. The egg stages extend for 3 days. Grubs The grubs are whitish yellow and flattened. It feeds inside the leaf tissue by mining. The larval stage is 10-12 days. Pupae It pupates inside the leaf mines. The pupation period extend for 7 days. Adult The adult beetle is somewhat square shaped about 1/6 to 1/8” in length and width dark blue or blackish in color with spines all over the body. It completed it’s life cycle in 28 days.  Management practices Avoid over fertilizing the field. Close plant spacing results in greater leaf densities that can tolerate higher hispa numbers. Leaf tip containing blotch mines should be destroyed. Manual collection and killing of beetles – hand nets. To prevent egg laying of the pests, the shoot tips can be cut. Clipping and burying shoots in the mud can reduce grub populations by 75 - 92%. Reduviid bug eats upon the adults. ETL 2 adults or 2 damage/hill. Spray neem based pesticide e.g. altineem @ 3ml per litre of water or crude neem seed oil. Application of fenitrothion 0.5 kg/ha produces deformity on larvae and pupae.  6. Rice ear cutting caterpillar / Armyworm Scientific Name : Mythimna separata Family : Noctuidae Order : Lepidoptera Host : Graminaceous family Identification  Armyworm larvae vary in color from dark greenish-brown to black.  The head capsule is yellowish brown with a brown network of veins, giving it a mottled appearance.  The armyworm moth, approximately an inch long with a 1 ½ inch wingspan, is tan to light brown, with a tiny white spot centered on each forewing.  Damage symptoms Army worm feeds on rice by cutting off leaves and young seedlings at the plant's base. They can also cut off rice panicles from base.  Tobacco caterpillar Fall Armywor armyworm m Cutworm  Life cycle  Eggs are laid in cluster, consisting of approximately 500 eggs.  The young caterpillars hatch from the eggs in 4-5 days.  After hatching the caterpillars starts feeding on the leaves of the seedlings.  Generally, the caterpillars move in swarm from one field to the other. The caterpillars are fully grown in about 15 days after passing six instar stages and measures 3-5 cm in length.  After attainment of full size the larva pupates inside the soil and remains in Fig : Life cycle of oriental this condition for about 15 days. armyworm  Thus, the life cycle is completed in about 30-35 days which is repeated several times each year.  Management  Clean the field and remove weeds.  Hand picking & killing.  Dig soil to expose larvae to predators such as birds and ants.  Places the ashes in the trenches to make caterpillar difficult to escape.  From panicle differentiation through heading, ETL : 25% defoliation and armyworms are present on the plants.  From panicle emergence to grain maturity, ETL : 10% of the panicles in the area sampled are damaged and armyworms are observed.  Spinosad 45% SC (0.25ml/liter of water) or Chlorpyrifos 50% + cypermethrin 5 % EC @30-45 ml/16 liters water or Emamectin benzoate 5% SG @ 5 gm/16 litres water in 7-14 days interval.  7) Rice caseworm Scientific Name Nymphula depunctalis Pyralidae : Lepidoptera Identification Eggs are light yellow, disc like, smooth and irregular in shape. Green caterpillars with orange brownish head. Fresh pupae are milky white, which gradually turn to light yellow. The adult is a small delicate moth having Fig 7a : Adults of Rice caseworm white wings speckled with pale brown wavy markings.  Damaging symptoms Rice caseworms or case bearers cut off leaf tips to make leaf cases. Their feeding damage can cut leaves at right angles as with a pair of scissors. Floating of tubular cases on the water. Fig 7b: Floating of tubular cases on the water caused by rice caseworms Fig 7c: Life cycle of rice caseworm  Management practices  A rope may be passed over the young crop for dislodging the larval cases from the tillers and then the water may be drained for eliminating them or pass the rope from one end to other end to dislodge the eggs.  Use of correct fertilizer application, wider spacing and early planting.  Snails are useful predators of eggs of the rice caseworm.  The larvae are fed upon by the water beetles.  Spiders, dragonflies, and birds eat the adults.  Using kerosene oil in the water of the field for controlling larvae.  Application of cypermethrin 10% EC @ 1.5 ml / 1 litres produces deformity on larvae and pupae.   8) Rice leaf folder Scientific Name Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Lepidoptera: Pyralidae Identification Larval is greenish translucent, prothoracic shield straight apically and rounded laterally. Moth is yellow brownish wings with many dark wavy lines in central and dark band on margin of wings. Host plants Rice, maize, sorghum, wheat, oats, coconut, barley, banana, tobacco, millet, sugarcane and others. Fig 8a : Rice leaf folder adults  Damaging symptoms Larva feeds on leaf forming longitudinal and transparent whitish streaks on damaged leaves. Tubular folded leaves. Leaf tips sometimes fastened to the basal part of leaf. Heavily infested fields appear scorched with many folded leaves. Fig 8c: Whiti Fig 8b sh : strea Larva ks on e of leave Rice s Leaf dama folder ge by foldin rice g leaf padd folde y leaf r  Life cycle Eggs Eggs are laid singly or in groups of 3 to 8 along the midrib of young leaves. A female lays about 135 to 175 eggs. The eggs hatch 4-8 days after oviposition. Larvae Larvae are yellow, turn yellowish-green with brown head as they mature. C. medinalis completes its larval development in 15 to 27 days after passing through five instars. Pupae Pupa is light brown to bright brown and turns reddish-brown just before adult emergence. The newly formed pupa is light brown, but turns reddish brown toward moth emergence in 6-8days. Adults Adult female moth is golden yellow in color with brown margins on both the wings. While resting, the body shape is like that of an equal-sided triangle. Fig 8d : Life cycle of rice leaf Adults usually emerge in the evening and mating folder occurs at night.  Management practices  Keep the rice field and surrounding weed free particularly Echinochloa colona.  Spray commercial Bt formulation @ 3 g/l water against freshly hatched larvae.  Release Trichogramma chilonis @5 cc (1,00,000/ha) thrice at 37, 44 and 51 days.  Avoid excessive nitrogenous fertilizers.  Practice applying potassium fertilizer alone in the growing crop.  Keep the bunds clean.  Spray Chlorpyrifos 50% + cypermethrin 5 % EC @ 30-45 ml /16 litre of water in 7-14 days interval at tillering to flowering stage of plant.  9) Green rice leaf hopper Scientific Name Nephotettix virescens Homoptera: Cicadellidae Identification Nymphs are soft bodied, yellow white in color. Adults are bright green with variable black markings, wedge shaped with a characteristic diagonal movement. Hosts Rice, maize, sorghum, wheat, oats etc. Fig 9a : Adult of Green rice leaf hopper  Damaging symptoms Damage done by green rice leaf hopper nymphs and adults  Directly by sucking the plant sap causes yellowing and drying up.  Indirectly as Vector of Rice tungro, yellow dwarf viral diseases. Fig 9b : Nymphs and adults of Fig 9c : Yellowing of leaves green rice leaf hopper in leaf  Life cycle Eggs Greenish transparent eggs are deposited in the midrib of leaf blade or sheath of rice or green grass. They are laid in batches of 10 to 15 arranged in a single row. The eggs hatch 6-9 days after oviposition. Nymphs There are five nymphal stages in green rice hopper. The nymphal development period of green rice hopper is 16-18 days. The nymphs are soft bodied, yellow white in color. Gradually the color changes to green. Adults Adults are 3-5 mm long, bright green with variable black markings, wedge shaped with a characteristic diagonal movement. Male insect has a black spot in middle of the forewings that is absent in females. Adult life span is 2-3 weeks. Fig 9d : Life cycle of green rice hopper  Management practices  Monitoring of green leaf hopper at base of the plant 30 days after transplanting at weekly interval.  Alternate wetting and drying the field during peak infestation.  Apply recommended dose of nitrogenous fertilizers.  If green leaf hopper is more than 5/hill at vegetative stage or 10/hill at flowering or 2/hill in tungro endemic area.  Spray Nitenpyram 10% SL or Acetamiprid 50% WDG @ 0.5-1 ml /liter of water in 7 days interval alternatively in vegetative stages.  10) Rice mealy bugs Scientific Name Brevennia rehi Homoptera: Pseudococcidae Identification Females are reddish, oval, soft-bodied living in colonies inside the leaf sheath. Males are small, slender, pale-yellow, having single pair of wings and a style like process at the end of the abdomen but lack mouthparts. Fig 10a : Mealy Bugs  Damaging symptoms Large number of insects remains in leaf sheath and suck the sap. Presence of white waxy fluff in leaf sheaths. Plants become weak, yellowish and stunted. Fig 10b : Mealybugs Fig 10c : Mealybugs intercept the infestation observed in carbohydrate nutrients with their paddy fields sucking mouthparts. The resulting damage produces a wilt.  Life cycle Eggs Eggs are yellowish white, about 0.3 mm long, and are laid in chains. The incubation period is 3-6 hours. Nymphs The nymphs are white, turning to pale yellow and later to pale pink. They are about 0.4 mm long. They complete three nymphal stages, which last for about 15 days. Adults Adult females of B. rehi are wingless, elongate-oval or broadly ovate, pinkish, and soft-bodied with a distinct waxy or powdery coating. The males are smaller and yellowish white, have a single pair of wings and a waxy style-like process at the end of abdomen but lacks mouthparts. The insect completes its life cycle in 17-37 days.  Management practices  Remove the grasses and trim the bunds during the main field preparation before transplanting.  Encourage lady beetles such as Coccinella repanda Thunberg, Menochilus sexmaculatus Fabricius, and Harmonia octomaculata Fabricius are the main natural enemies of the mealybug.  Remove and destroy infested rice hills transplanted in fields.  Early planting and continuous irrigation up to 5 cm depth throughout the growing period.  Least nitrogen fertilizer and sufficient farmyard manure help check mealybug explosion in field.  Spray Dimethoate 30% EC @ 1 ml /liter, Nitenpyram 10% SL or Acetamiprid 50% WDG @ 0.5-1 ml /liter of water in 7 days interval alternatively in vegetative stages.  11) Rice gall midge Scientific Name Orseolia oryzae Diptera: Cecidomyiidae Identification Adult fly is yellowish brown and mosquito like. Fig 11a: Adult of rice gall The male is ash grey in color. midge  Damaging symptoms Maggot feeds at the base of the growing shoot. Causing formation of a tube like gall that is similar to “onion leaf” or “Silver-shoot”. Infested tillers produce no panicles. Fig 11b: Silvery shoot in rice  Life cycle Eggs The fly lays elongate, cylindrical, shinning white or red or pinkish eggs singly or in clusters (2-6) at the base of the leaves. Larvae Maggot is 1 mm long after hatching with pointed anterior end. It creeps down the sheath and enters the growing bud. An oval chamber is formed round the site of feeding. The average larval period of Orseolia oryzae is 15-20 days. Pupae At the time of emergence the pupa wriggles up the tube with the help of antennal horn to the tip of the silver shoot and projects half way out. Emergence generally takes place at night. The pupal period is 2-8 days. Adult Fig 11c: Life cycle of rice Adult fly is yellowish brown and mosquito like. The male is ash grey in color. Adults feed on dewdrops. It gall midge usually takes 9-14 days to complete one life cycle on grasses, but about 9-26 days on rice.  Management practices  Release Platygaster oryzae parasitised galls at 1/10 metre square on 10 days after transplanting (DAT).  Early ploughing.  Harvest the crop and plough immediately.  Remove the alternate hosts and adjust the time of planting.  Optimum recommendation of potash fertilizer.  Setup light trap and monitor the adult flies.  It is difficult to control the gall midge with insecticide because the larvae are protected inside the plant or gall. Spray granule pesticides by holding the water in the fields.  Dip the root of seedling before transplanting in solution of chlorpyriphos 20EC @ 0.02%+4% urea (0.5 L chlorpyriphos in 25L of water) for 3-4 hours. Insect pests of Maize  Inventory of maize insect pests 1. Maize (Zea mays) Habitat Common name Local Name Scientific name Order: Family Pest status Lepidoptera: 1.1 Cutworms km]b s6'jf Agrotis segetum, A. ipsilon Major Noctuidae Soil Phyllophaga spp. Holotricha Coleoptera: 1.2 White grubs v'd]| Major spp. Anomala spp. Scarabaeidae Foliage Lepidoptera: 1.3 Oriental armyworm cGg afnLsf] kmf}hL sL/f Mythimna separata Walker Major Noctuidae 1.4 Maize aphid ds}sf] nfxL Rhopalosiphum maidis Hemiptera:Aphididae Major Lepidoptera: Leaves 1.5 Maize stem borer ds}sf] uef/f] Chilo partellus Swinhoe Major Pyralidae & Lepidoptera: Stems 1.6 Pink borer u'nfaL uef/f] Sesamia inferens Walker Minor Noctuidae Monolepta signata Fab. / Coleoptera: 1.7 Flea beetle Vfk6] Minor Phyllotetra crucifera Chrysomelidae 1.8 Maize shoot fly slnnf] 8fF7sf] lemFuf Atherigona oryzae Diptera: Muscidae Minor Lepidoptera : 1.9 Fall armyworm cd]l/sg km}fhLls/f Spodoptera frugiperda Major Noctuidae Reproductive parts Hemiptera: Tassels Maize aphid ds}sf] nfxL Rhopalosiphum maidis lin. Minor Aphididae ds}sf] 3f]ufdf nfUg] uef/f] Helicoverpa armigera Lepidoptera: Cobs 1.10 Maize cobworm Minor Hubner Noctuidae  1. Maize stem borer Scientific name: Chilo partellus swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Identification:  Borer larvae differ with the grubs in terms of shape, prolegs. Grubs are “C ”shaped structure with no prolegs in it’s abdominal part whereas, borer larvae consists of 5 pairs prolegs in abdominal part.  The grown up caterpillar are about 20-25 mm long and dirty greyish white with black head and four brownish longitudinal stripes on the back.  The adult are yellowish grey moths, about 25mm across the wing when spread. Damaging symptoms:  C. partellus larvae feed in leaf , causing characteristic scars and holes. Older larvae tunnel into stem, then form a characteristic 'dead-heart', especially in young plants.  Fig: Adult of C.partellus Fig: Larval of C.partellus Fig: Damaging symptoms of C.partellus  Life cycle  C. partellus lay flat oval, yellowish eggs and are laid in overlapping clusters each containing up to 20 eggs.  A female lays over 300 eggs during its life span of 2-12 days and the egg hatch in 4-5 days in summer.  Larvae matures in 16-41 days.  Six instar stages exerted in total life cycle.  The adults emerged after 4-8 days from pupae. Fig: Life cycle of Maize stem borer  The insect breeds actively from March- April to October.  Hosts C. partellus is an important pest of cultivated cereals, especially maize, sorghum and pearl millet. Management  Destruction of crop residues (stems and stubbles), and removal of volunteer crop plants and alternative hosts.  Install light traps in the rice field to monitor the population of moths.  Cultivate the Napier grass and Desmodium legume as intercrops to follow pull and push strategy.  In the later stages of infestation, larvae bore into upper maize stalks and dead-heart symptoms appear. At this stage, control measures are too late because larvae are protected inside the stalks.  Release Trichogramma chilonis for 6 times @ 50,000-100,000 parasitized eggs per ha per week soon after appearance of moths in the crop field.  Spray Bacillus thuringiensis based formulation such as DIPEL or BIOLEP @ 3 g per litre water during evening hours, repeat application at 10 days interval.  ETL : If more than 10 % dead hearts appear in the fields,  Spray Chlorpyrifos based products chlorpyrifos 50% +cypermethrin 5% EC @ 30-45ml/ 16 litre of water in weekly interval.  2.White grubs Scientific Name: Phyllophaga spp./Holotrichia spp./Anomala dimidiate (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Fig:: White grubs Identification: White grubs are the larva of scarb “chafer” beetles. They are creamy white in color, C- shaped with brown head with 3 pair of thoracic legs. Fig: Chafer beetles  Life cycle: Female beetles lays eggs in soil in pasture land or in fresh dung. Hatching of egg takes place after 2-3 weeks. First instar larva begin to feed on organic matter after hatching, later third instar feed on plants roots. With cooling soil temperature, larva descends into the soil profile, where they spend the winter. In the spring, larvae begin their upward migration as soil temperatures increases. The larval period ranges from 9-21 months and pupal period is 3-6 months. Most beetles takes 3 years to complete their life cycles in temperate regions but only 2 years in optimum soil temperature. Fig: Life cycle of white grubs Damaging symptoms:  White grubs damage typically appears as stunted, wilted, discolored, or dead seedlings and/or as gaps in rows where plants fail to emerge.  White grubs prune roots and can feed on the mesocotyl causing plant death. Hosts:  White grubs feed on the roots of corn, sorghum, potato, barley, oat, wheat, turnip, and to a lesser degree, other cultivated crops. Fig: Damaging symptoms of white grubs in maize  Management Farmers should apply only well decomposed farmyard manure in fields. The partly decomposed FYM provides congenial conditions to survive the newly hatched grubs. Light traps are used to monitoring the adult’s beetle. Use trap crops or repellent plants. Good traps crops African marigold, sunflower and repellent plants are garlic and onion.  1 &1 kg of Metrahizium & Beauveria mixed with 25 kg of FYM and kept for 8 days in shade. Using this during land preparation control the white grub. Treat the seed before sowing with 12.5ml of chlorpyriphos 20% EC per kg of seed. When preparing land use chlorpyriphos dust, at 1kg per ropani , mixed into the soil.  3.Maize aphids Scientific Name Rhopalosiphum maidis (green corn aphid) Identification Bluish-green insects with a purplish patch around the base of the prominent cornicles. Damaging symptoms The primary symptoms are observed in growing points of plants due to population development in leaf whorls, un-emerged heads and tassels. Fig: Maize aphids in maize field Production by large aphid populations leads to sooty mold growth. Leaves may also become chlorotic or curled longitudinally.  Hosts Several Gramineae species. Life cycle Develop through gradual metamorphosis Four nymphal stages, resemble adults. Reproduce without mating; give birth to live nymphs, males extremely rare. Winged forms with black head and thorax are produced when colony becomes stressed or overcrowded. Dense colonies formed on plants; shed skins are white and shriveled. 40-50 generations per year. Overwinters on winter cereals. Management Enhance the bio-control agent of aphid. Fig: Damaging symptoms of Use yellow sticky traps to monitor aphids. aphids observe in maize Spray Acetamiprid 50% WDG @ 0.5-1 gm/liter water in 7-14 days interval.  4. Cutworm Scientific Name Agrotis ipsilon,Agrotis segetum (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Hosts It is associated with corn, cotton, tobacco, vegetables, weeds and turf grasses. Environmental abundance Persistent dry weather with lesser or no rainfall, reduced humidity and 16 -23˚C temperatures favor the development of cutworm. Fig: Larvae of cutworm  Life cycle  Female lays eggs on ventral surface of leaves or moist soil.  Freshly ploughed fields are preferred for oviposition.  Each female lays on an average 300-450 eggs in clusters of 30.  Total larval period is 10-30 days with five larval stages.  Pupate in soil and the pupal period is 10-30 days.  Total life cycle is completed in 30-68 days depending on the climatic conditions. Fig: Life cycle of cutworm  Damaging symptoms The caterpillars are nocturnal and feed at night. During the day these insects hide just beneath the soil close to the site of the previous night's damage.  This pest is capable of damage sufficient to necessitate the replanting of maize. Management Hand picking of cutworms found in soil around affected plants. Dig soil to expose larvae to predators such as birds and ants. Apply insecticide to the ground around affected plants. Spray Chlorpyrifos 50% + cypermethrin 5 % EC @30-45 ml/16 liters water in 7-14 days interval. Fig: Damaging symptoms of cutworms in maize field  5. Oriental armyworm Scientific Name Mythimna separata (Walker) Identification Fig: Adult of oriental armyworm  Larva has two wide black-brown and one intermediate light dorsal stripe, with black-brown lateral stripe along spiracle line.  In adults, the forewings are greyish yellow with a dark-grey or reddish-yellow tinge. Fig : Larvae of oriental armyworm  Life cycle:  Eggs are laid in cluster, consisting of approximately 500 eggs.  The young caterpillars hatch from the eggs in 4-5 days.  After hatching the caterpillars starts feeding on the leaves of the seedlings.  Generally, the caterpillars move in swarm from one field to the other. The caterpillars are fully grown in about 15 days and measures 3-5 cm in length.  After attainment of full size the larva pupates inside the soil and remains in this condition for about 15 days. Fig : Life cycle of oriental armyworm  Thus, the life cycle is completed in about 30-35 days which is repeated several times each year.  Hosts  The larvae feed on wide a range of agricultural plants like maize, sorghum and rice and are thus considered a pest. Management  Hand picking of found in soil around affected plants.  Dig soil to expose larvae to predators such as birds and ants.  Apply insecticide to the ground around affected plants.  Spinosad 45% SC (0.25ml/liter of water) or Chlorpyrifos 50% + cypermethrin 5 % EC @30-45 ml/16 liters water or Emamectin benzoate 5% SG @ 5 gm/16 litres water in 7-14 days interval. Fig: Damage by oriental armyworm larvae  6. Flower beetle Scientific Name Chiloloba acuta (Coleoptera: Cetonidae) Hosts Flower beetle caused damage in rice, maize, sorghum, millets etc. Identification The adult beetles are shiny metallic green and can sometimes appear red or deep blue. They are clothed in hairs irregularly on the upper-side but more densely on the sides and Fig: Adult of pollen beetle underside.  Damaging symptoms  They also feed on the leaves, bud and flower.  The main injury consists in feeding and destroying blossom petals. Life Cycle Female beetles lays eggs on a leaf or in rotten woods takes 4-10 days to hatch. Larval stages 3-5, feed on branches, trunks or twigs of plants. The pupal stages is usually found during the winter period and adult emergence occurs in spring. Management  Hand collection of adult beetle with the help of sweep nets.  Spray Chlorpyrifos 50% +Cypermethrin 5% EC @ 30-45ml/litre of water at weekly interval.  7. Fall armyworm Order : Lepidoptera Family: Noctuidae S.N : Spodoptera frugiperda Polyphagous insect Host : 353 crops, major maize, sugarcane , millet and vegetables. Have ability to fly upto 500 km. NPPO verified occurrence of fall armyworm in Nepal : 2076/4/27  Identification Eggs Larvae just hatch out from eggs Different instar of Larvae identification : Inverted “Y” 1st instar larvae larvae structure and four square spots  Identification Female moth Adult moth Variation in fall armyworm larvae color  Damage symptoms Skeletonizing or windowing effect in leaves ( 1st & 2nd Ragged- edged holes (4th and 5th instar) instar larvae ) Larvae damaging whorl of maize Moist sawdust-like frass in whorl Last instar larvae damaging the cobs Damage cobs  Life cycle 9 to 13 days 14 to 21 days 3 to 5 days  Monitoring : Scouting Pattern Scouting of crop field is necessary for the accurate assessment of the level of infestation of FAW, and is usually expressed as percentage (%) of infested plants. Scouting in the field is done in a semi systemic manner. It is one of the approaches that follow a "W" pattern to cover the entire field. Moving from point A inspecting 10-20 sample plants in each point. Observe the upper 3-4 leaves in the plant carefully. Visiting twice a week during vegetative stage at heavy infestation condition, once a week at late stage.  Management Hand picking larvae and destroying eggs by crushing or immersed larvae in soap. Use of local botanicals (neem, hot pepper, titepati, Timur and other plant extracts)act as antifeedant and repellant against FAW. Using ash, sand, saw dust or dirt into whorls to control fall armyworm larvae. For monitoring the fall armyworm , place the pheromone traps and light traps. Fall armyworm can also be managed by the release of parasitoids Trichogramma pretiosum or T. chilonis @100000/ha., Telenomus remus @ 50000/ha and Bracon hebetor @ 50,000/ha.  Push-pull techniques has been widely used in controlling fall armyworm where Desmodium spp is used as push crop and Napier grass are used as pull crops. It is effective against FAW , to use pesticides early in the morning from 6:00-10:00 am or late afternoon 4:00-7:00 pm. Spray the whole plant and target the whorl where the larvae are usually found.  Use an alternate group of pesticide in the next spray to avoid development of pest resistance. Some of the recommended chemical pesticides in Nepal and their doses are as follows Azadirachtin 1500 ppm @ 5 ml per liter of water at the time of early stage of damages. Spinetoram 11.7% EC (Delegate) @ 0.5ml per liter water. Emamectin benzoate 5% SG @ 0.4gm per liter water. Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 0.4ml per liter water. Spinosad 45% SC @ 1ml per liter-water.  Minor insects 1.Field cricket Damaging symptoms : Crickets, also called gryllids, feed on leaves by making irregular to longitudinal exit holes. They also feed on stems, seeds, and on young panicles of the rice plant. When feeding damage is excessive, they can cause dead- heart. 2.Maize cobworm Damaging symptoms : Caterpillars hatching prior to silking cause little damage to tassels but may cause damage when migrating to cobs.  3. Pink borer Damaging symptoms: Pink borer larva enters into the stem causing dead heart symptom. 4. Maize shoot fly Damaging symptoms: The maggot feeds on the young growing shoots results in “dead hearts”.  5. Wireworm Identification: Wireworms are slender, hard-bodied, wire-like larvae that can damage young corn plants. Damaging symptoms : Wireworm larvae may feed on the germ of corn kernels or completely hollow out the seeds, leaving only the seed coat. This damage results in gaps in the rows. Wireworms may also cut off small roots or tunnel into the underground portions of the root or stem of young corn plants.  Life cycle The females lays eggs in cluster or singly on roots or into soil at a depth of 3- 15cm. The total female fecundity amounts to 50-350 eggs. The larva develops during 3-5 years, molting 8-11 times. Overwintering takes place at a soil depth of 20-50 cm. The larvae prefer moist soils, as soils dry out, they migrate in deeper soil layer. Larger larvae are able to starve several months. A generation lasts 3-6 years depending on food availability and environmental conditions.  Management Follow crop rotations with Alfalfa and highly glucosinolate brassicas to reduce wireworm population. Field drying and summer ploughing to reduce larval population. Use entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi Beauveria and Metarhizium have been found effective against this pest.  6. Flea beetle Monolepta signata Phyllotetra crucifera THANK YOU  INSECT PESTS OF WHEAT INSECT PESTS OF FINGERMILLET INSECT PESTS OF LEGUMES  INSECT PESTS OF WHEAT Pink borer, Sesamia inferens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Wireworm, Agriotes sp. (Coleoptera: Elateridae) Armyworm, Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Aphids, Rhopalosiphum maidids, Schizaphis graminnum, and Microsiphium acanae (Homoptera: Aphididae) Grasshopper, Atractomorpha crenulata, Oxya adanata, Chrotogonus sp( Orthoptera: Acrididae) Termite, Microtermes obsi, Odontotermes obsesus (Isoptera: Termitidae) Green plant bug, Nezara viridula (Hemiptera : Pentatomidae)  Pink borer, Sesamia inferens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Host Polyphagous insect. It feeds on wheat, finger millet, rice, sugarcane, maize, sorghum. Identification The damage is caused by the caterpillars which are pinkish brown and have a smooth cylindrical body, measuring about 25mm. The moth are straw colored and have stout body.  Life cycle The pest breeds actively from March- April to November on rice and then migrates to the wheat crop. The moth are nocturnal and lay eggs on leaves or on the ground. The egg hatch in 6-8 days and young caterpillar bore into the epidermal layers of the leaf sheath. Later on, they bore into the stem as a result of which the growing shoot dries up producing dead hearts. When the attacked plants die, the larva move onto adjoining plants. They are full fed in 3-4 weeks and pupate inside the stem or in between the stem and leaves. The pupal stage last about a week and the life cycle is completed in 6-7 weeks. There are 4-5 generations of the pest in a year.  Damage The attacked young plants shows dead hearts and are killed together. The older plants are not killed, but they produce a few grains only.  Management  The removal and destruction of stubble at the time of the first ploughing after harvesting the crop.  Clip the seedling tip before transplanting as stem borer lays eggs in the tips of seedling.  Introduction of eggs parasitoids (Trichogramma chilonis) 50,000-1,00,000 per ha during peak season control pink borer.  The field showing more than 5% dead hearts should be sprayed with 875 ml triazophos 40% EC or 2.5 liters of chlorpyriphos 20% EC in 250 liter of water per ha.  Insect pests of finger millet Pink borer, Sesamia inferens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) White grubs, Holotrichia spp. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Banded blister beetle, Mylabris phalerata (Coleoptera : Meloidae) Head caterpillars, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner , (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) Root aphid, Tetraneura nigriabdominalis, ( Homoptera : Aphididae ) Flea beetle , Monolepta signata, ( Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae)  Insect pest of legume / pulses Major Insect Pests Chickpea pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) Pod fly, Melanaagromyza obtusa Malloch (Diptera : Agromyzidae) Soyabean Hairy Caterpillar, Spilarctia casigneta Kollar (Lepidoptera : Arctiidae) Pea leaf miner, Phytomyza horticola Gourear (Diptera : Agromyzidae) Pea Pod Borer, Lampides boeticus Lin. (Lepidoptera : Lycaenidae) Sphinx Moth, Herse convolvuli Lin. (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) Semiloopers, Thysanoplusia orichalcea fab. (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) Legume Pod Bug, Anoplocnemis curvipes Fab. ( Hemiptera : Coreidae)  Minor insect pests Grasshopper, Atractomorpha crenulata Fab. (Orthoptera : Acrididae) Soyabean hairy caterpillar, Spilarctia casigneta Kollar ( Lepidoptera :Arctiidae ) Grey weevil, Myllocerus undecimpustulatus Faust (Coleoptera : Curculionidae) Flea beetle, Monolepta signata fab. (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae) Spotted beetle, Epilachna vigintioctopunctata fab. (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae) Epilachna pussillanima Mulsant (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae) Leaf folder, Hydelepta indicata Saunders (Lepidoptera : Pyralidae) Jute Hairy caterpillar, Spilarctia obliqua Walker (Lepidoptera : Arctiidae) Redgram plume moth, Exelastis atomosa Walsingham (Lepidoptera : Pterophoridae)  Leaf Damaging Insects Soyabean Hairy Caterpillar, Spilarctia casigneta Kollar (Lepidoptera : Arctiidae) Pea leaf miner, Phytomyza horticola Gourear (Diptera : Agromyzidae) Sphinx Moth, Herse convolvuli Lin. (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) Semiloopers, Thysanoplusia orichalcea fab. (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) Tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura fab. (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) Spotted beetle, Epilachna vigintioctopunctata fab. (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae) Epilachna pussillanima Mulsant (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae) Leaf folder, Hydelepta indicata Saunders (Lepidoptera : Pyralidae) Jute Hairy caterpillar, Spilarctia obliqua Walker (Lepidoptera : Arctiidae) Flea beetle, Monolepta signata fab. (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae)  Pod damaging insects Chickpea pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) Pod fly, Melanaagromyza obtusa Malloch (Diptera : Agromyzidae) Pea Pod Borer, Lampides boeticus Lin. (Lepidoptera : Lycaenidae) Legume Pod Bug, Anoplocnemis curvipes Fab. (Coreidae : Hemiptera) Redgram plume moth, Exelastis atomosa Walsingham (Lepidoptera : Pterophoridae) Bean pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera : Pyralidae)  Sap sucking insects Aphids, Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera : Aphididae) Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Homoptera : Aphididae) Aphis fabae Scopoli ( Homoptera : Aphididae) A. gossypii Glover ( Homoptera : Aphididae) A.glycine Matsumura (Homoptera : Aphididae) Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Homoptera : Aleyrodidae) Thrips, Taeniothrips flavidulus (Thysanoptera : Thripidae) Lygus bug, Lygus sp. (Hemiptera : Miridae) Leafhoppers, Empoasca fabae Harris ( Homoptera : Cicadellidae)  Flower Damaging Insect Banded blister beetle, Mylabris phalerata (Coleoptera : Meloidae) Stem Damaging Insect Pea stem fly, Ophiomyia phaseoli Tryon (Diptera : Agromyzidae) Soyabean Stem Fly, Melanogromyza sojae Zehnther (Diptera : Agromyzidae) Seed Damaging Insect Pulse Beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis Lin. / C. maculates Fab. (Coleoptera : Bruchidae) Seed Moth, Ephestia cautella Walker (Lepidoptera : Pyralidae)  1. Chickpea pod borer Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) Identification Adult pod borer bear dull brown forewings. Symptoms The Helicoverpa spp. destroys buds and flowers. If flowers and pods are not available, larvae will feed upon foliage. Host : Maize, Chickpea, Tomato, Chilli, Fingermillet etc.  Life cycle Eggs : A female may lay up to 3000 eggs (mainly at night) on leaves, flowers, and pods. Eggs are laid singly on leaves, flowers, and young pods. The egg incubation period depends on temperature and varies between 2 and 5 days. Larvae : The number of larval instars varies from 5 to 7, with 6 being most common. Larval period is 22-27 days. Pupae : Pupation takes place in soil. Pupae are brown color, lasts for 8-15 days. Adult : Adult emerge out of the pupae. The life cycle can be completed in 30-40 days in warm conditions. Source : http://helicoverpaaspests.weebly.com/life-cycles.html)  Management Sowing early, especially short duration varieties , helps to avoid pod borer. Optimum used of fertilizer, higher phosphorous and lower nitrogen. Trap crop like sunflower and marigold grown in the border line minimize the borer incidence. Install pheromone traps ( Heli-lure in funnel traps ) @ 12 per hectare after 30 days of sowing. Intercropping coriander with chickpea, can minimize borer incidence. ETL for chickpea pod borer 1 larva / meter. Hand-picking is the most cost-effective method for controlling pod borer in small scale farming. Applying Neem Seed Kernel Extract (NSKE 5%) treatment reduced the pod borer population in chickpea. Spray 3 times with NPV250 LE @ 2.5 ml/litre of water at weekly intervals. Spray Azadirachtin 0.03% EC 5 ml/ litre or Emamectin benzoate 5% SG, 5 gm /16 litre of water at weekly interval.  2.Pod fly Melanaagromyza obtusa Malloch (Diptera : Agromyzidae) Identification Small black fly Maggot white , legless and anterior end of body sharply pointed. Damage symptoms Pod fly infested pods do not show external evidence of damage until the fully-grown larvae chew holes in the pod walls. This hole provides an emergence "window" through which the adult escape out. Pod fly damaged seeds will not germinate and are unfit for human consumption.  Life Cycle Eggs Females lay eggs inside the pod with the help of ovipositor. Lays upto 80 eggs Maggot Maggot emerge within 3-4 days from eggs. They start feeding the seeds of pods. Pupae Maggot matures within 6-9 days and pupation takes place. Adult After 8-9 days of pupation adult emerge out. It takes about 3 weeks to complete a life cycle.  Management  Sow the crop early in the season.  Monitor the field to examine damage incidence and use sticky traps to capture adult flies.  Intercrop with maize and groundnut.  Crop rotation should be practiced.  Conservation of natural enemies.  Spray Quinalphos 25 EC @ 1.6 ml/lit of water at 50 % flowering stage and after 10 - 15 days neem seed kernel extract should be used.  3. Soyabean Hairy Caterpillar S.N : Spilarctia casigneta Kollar ( Lepidoptera :Arctiidae ) Identification Brownish , small black spot in the front wing and large black spot in the hind wings Damage symptoms Caterpillar 1st to 3rd instar feed on leaves. The mature larvae can feed whole the plant parts as feed on the older leaves, stems, shoots, flowers and pods causing serious damage to the plants.  Life cycle Eggs Female moth lays eggs underside the leaves. Eggs hatch out in 5 days in summer and 12-13 days in winter. Larvae Black and red hairs presence in larvae. Larval period 3-4 weeks. 6 instar larvae. Pupae Pupation occurred inside the leaf trashes and piles of dried leaves. The freshly formed obtect pupa was yellowish and gradually reached to dark brown. The pupal period is 6-7 days in summer and 16-24 during winter. Adult Total life span of male and female ranged from 37 to 42 days. The adults are medium sized brown moths and had pink abdomen.  Management Deep summer ploughing. Avoid pre monsoon sowing. Use optimum seed rate. Adequate plant spacing should be provided. Intercrop soybean either with (early maturing) pigeon pea variety or maize or sorghum in the sequence of 4:2 should be practiced. Collect & destroy infested plant parts, egg masses and young larvae. Remove the infested plant parts at least once in 10 days and bury them in compost pit to monitor and reduce the population. Install light trap to catch the adults of some nocturnal pests such as hairy caterpillar. Apply Deltamethrin 2.8% EC 1ml /litre of water or Cypermethrin 10% EC 1 ml /litre of water.  4. Pea leaf miner Phytomyza horticola Gourear (Diptera : Agromyzidae) Host Leguminous Plant Damage symptoms Maggot mines the leaf resulting zigzag linings in the leaf surface. Reduce effective area of photosynthesis. Ultimately results in stunted plant and reduction of yield.  Life cycle Eggs: Female lays eggs in leaf tissues. Eggs are minute in size and maximum number of eggs laid by one female can reach 50. The egg hatches in 4 days. Larvae: Apodous maggot feeds on chlorophyll mining in between epidermal layers. Full grown maggot measures 3 mm. Larval duration is about 7 days. Pupae: Pupation takes place inside a thin loose mesh of silken cocoon. Pupal period is about 7 days. Adult: It is a pale yellowish fly, measuring 1.5 mm in length. Total life cycle takes 3 weeks. The pest has about 5- 6 generations in a year.  Management Follow clean cultivation and host destruction to reduce the pest population. Use yellow sticky traps to monitor the adult leaf miner. Natural enemies, especially parasitic wasps in the genus Diglyphus, commonly reduce numbers of leafminers. If leafminer numbers build to high levels when seedlings have four to five leaves, a chemical treatment may be necessary. Spray abamectin , cyromazine, azadiractin and spinosad based pesticides. 5) Bean pod borer / Cowpea pod borer Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera : Pyralidae) Identification The moth wings are blackish-brown with white markings on the forewings and a wingspan of 20-25 mm. Larvae are whitish to pale green in color with irregular brown-black spots and the head is dark brown. Host Host plants include beans, cowpeas and other legumes. Damage symptoms Bore holes on the buds, flower or pods. Infested pods and flowers are webbed together.  Life Cycle Eggs Eggs are oval, clear and light yellowish-white in color; a single egg looks like a small drop of water. Larvae Young larva feed on the flowers and foliage, but older larva are more mobile and more likely to be found feeding on and boring into the pods and eating the developing seeds. The larva stage lasts an average of 13-14 days Pupae The pupa stage 6-7 days. Once mature the larva drops from the plant to the soil where it pupates beneath plant litter. Adult Adults can live an average of 6-10 days.  Management Do not crop on the same piece of land for more than two seasons (rotate cowpea with maize). Remove weeds near to the crop as larvae may be hiding in weed leaves. Remove some leaves (pruning) from the main stem to increase the amount of sunlight on the stem. Direct sunlight deter pod borer. Use cowpea varieties with hairy leaves and stems, thick pod walls and pods that grow above the leaves. Take action when 5 plant are damaged and the presence of sooty mold on the leaf surface. Hand pick larvae and eggs from the plants and crush them. Create conducive environment for natural enemies (e.g. lady bird beetles, spiders, praying mantis etc.) Apply insecticide Cypermethrin or Lambda-cyhalothrin 40-45 days after planting to kill larvae, if necessary.  6. Pea Pod Borer/ Pea blue butterfly Lampides boeticus Lin. (Lepidoptera : Lycaenidae) Identification The adult moth is blue with prominent black spots in the hind wings and a long tail. Host range Cowpea, redgram, blackgram and niger. Damage symptoms The larvae feeds inside flower buds; green pods with bore holes and presence of slug like caterpillar.  Life cycle Eggs Lays eggs singly or in group of 2-3 on flower buds, green pods, shoots and leaves. The egg period is 4-7 days. Larvae The larva is pale green with a rough skin and measures 1mm in length. The larval period is 9-27 days. Pupae It pupates in leaf, twig or pod. The pupal period lasts for 17-19 days. Adult Bluish color butterfly emerge out from pupae.  Management Keep wider distance planting. Irrigation of crops at flowering will improve plant vigor and allow the crop to replace damaged flowers and terminals. Hand pick larvae and eggs from the plants and crush them. Create conducive environment for natural enemies (e.g. lady bird beetles, spiders, praying mantis etc.) Control is achieved by releasing of Trichogramma chlionis at weekly intervals @1.5 lakh/ha/ week for four times. Apply insecticide Cypermethrin or Lambda-cyhalothrin 40-45 days after planting to kill larvae, if necessary. Insect pests of Oilseeds & Crucifers  Major insect pest Major insect pest Insect pests of oilseed crop Insect pests of crucifers crop Mustard sawfly Mustard Sawfly Mustard aphid Diamondback moth Painted bug Flea beetle Tobacco caterpillar Cabbage aphid Cabbage butterfly Mustard aphid Linseed gallfly Cutworms Seasmum leaf pod caterpillar Cabbage butterfly Groundnut leaf miner Diamond back moth  Major insect pests of oilseeds 1. Mustard sawfly , Athalia lugens (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) 2. Mustard aphid , Lipaphis erysimi (Homoptera: Aphididae) 3. Painted bug , Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) 4. Tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) 5. Cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae / Pieris brassicae nepalensis (Lepidoptera : Pieridae) 6. Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera:Plutellidae) 7. Linseed gallfly, Dasineura lini barnes , ( Diptera : Cecidomyiidae ) 8. Seasmum webworm , Antigastra catalaunalis, (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae ) 9. Groundnut leaf miner, Aproaeroma modicella, (Lepidoptera : Gelechiidae)  Major insect pests 1. Cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae / Pieris brassicae nepalensis (Lepidoptera : Pieridae) 2. Diamond Back Moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera:Plutellidae) 3. Flea Beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae/Monalepta signata (Coleoptera; Chyrosmelidae) 4. Mustard Sawfly, Athalia lugens (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) 5. Mustard Aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Homoptera: Aphididae) 6. Cabbage Aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) 7. Cutworms, Agrotis segetum/ Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)  Minor insect pests o Tobacco Caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) o Soyabean Hairy Caterpillar, Spilarctia casigneta (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) o Semilooper, Thysanoplusia orichalcea/ Chrysodeixis chalcites (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) o Leaf Webber, Crocidolomia binotalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) o Rice Grasshopper, Atractomorpha crenulata (Orthoptera: Acrididae) o Painted Bug, Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) o Green Stink Bug, Nezara antennata (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) o Leaf Miner, Phytomyza horticola (Diptera: Agromyzidae) o Red Ant, Dorylus orientalis/ D. labiatus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) o White Grub, Phyllophaga rugosa (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae)  1) Mustard Sawfly Athalia lugens (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) Host It feeds on mustard, rapeseed, cabbage, cauliflower, Knol khol, turnip, radish etc. Identification  Damage is done by the larva, which are dark in color and have 8 pairs of prolegs.  There are five black stripes on the back and the body has wrinkled appearance.  A full grown larva measures 16-18 mm in length.  The adult are small orange yellow insect with black marking on the body & have smoky wings with black veins.  Life Cycle Egg Female sawfly live for 2-8 days and lay 30-35 eggs singly, in slits made with saw like ovipositors along the underside of the leaf margins. The egg hatch in 4-8 days. Larvae The larvae feed exposed in groups of 3-6 on the leaves during morning and evening. They remain hidden during the day time and, when disturbed, fall to the ground and feign death. They pass through seven larval stages and are full grown in 16-35 days. Pupae The full fed larvae descend the plant and enter the soil to a depth of 25-30 mm. There, they pupate in water proof oval cocoon made of silk and emerge from them as adults in 11-31 days. Adult The mustard sawfly breeds from October to March and the larvae rest in their pupal cocoons in the ground during summer. The adult emerge from these cocoons early in October. Thus, the life cycle is completed in 31-34days and pest completes 2-3 generation from October to March.  Damage symptoms The larvae feed on the leaves of rapeseed and mustard making holes. In severe case larvae eat up entire lamina of leaf leaving behind the midribs. In extreme cases, this pest defoliates the plants completely. They devour the epidermis of the shoot, resulting in drying up of seedlings and failure to bear seeds in older plants.  Management Practice summer ploughing, field sanitation and early sowing to escape the infestation. Applying irrigation in seedling stage minimize pest activity. Collection and destruction of larva at evening and morning. Perilissus cingulator, parasitiod of grub and bacteria Serratia marcescens Bizio infect the larvae of sawfly. Use of bio pesticide like margosom, Annosom show significant effect on management of this pest. Spray one liter of malathion 50% EC per ha in 150-200 liters of water.  2) Cabbage butterfly Pieris brassicae / Pieris brassicae nepalensis (Lepidoptera : Pieridae) Host range: cabbage, cauliflower, knol-khol and it may also attack turnip, radish, mustard and other cruciferous plants. Identification  The wings are pale white, with a black patch on the apical angle of each forewing and black spot on the costal margin of each hind wing.  Males are smaller than the females and have two black spots on the underside of each forewing.  The young larvae are pale yellow and become greenish yellow later on.  The head is black and the dorsum is marked with black spots. The body is decorated with short hairs.  Life cycle This pest appears on cruciferous vegetables at the beginning of October and remains active up to the end of April. From May to September, the pest is not found in the plain but breeding takes place in the mountains. The butterfly very active in the field and lay, on an average, 164 yellowish conical eggs in clusters of 50-90 on the upper or lower sides of the leaves. The eggs hatch in 11-17 days in November- February & 3-7 days in March – May. The caterpillars feed gregariously during the early instars & disperse as they approach maturity. They pass through five stages & are full fed in 15-22 days during March –April and 30-40 days during November –February. Pupation generally takes place in cocoon hanging in wall, branches and other plant parts. The pupal stage lasts 7.7- 14.4 days in March – April and 20-28 days in November – February. The butterflies live for 2.5 -12.5 days.  Damage symptoms The caterpillars alone feed on leaves, young shoots and green pods. When young, they feed gregariously but the grown-up caterpillars migrate from one field to another. The first instar caterpillars just scrape the leaf surface, whereas the subsequent instars eat up leaves from the margins inwards, leaving intact the main veins. Often, entire plants are eaten up.  Management Hand picking and mechanical destruction of caterpillar during early stage of attack can reduce infestation. Conservation of natural enemies like Assasian bugs, paper wasps etc. Cover fruit bearing plants with insect proof mesh to prevent from laying. Caterpillars can be controlled biologically by Apanteles glomeratus (L.). Spray commercial formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis @1-2 g/liter of water Spray 1 liter of malathion 50% EC in 250 liters of water per ha & Repeat spraying at 10- day interval if necessary.  3) Seasmum webworm Antigastra catalaunalis, (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae ) Identification Adults are small pale brownish moth with yellowish brown elongate wings and dark brown markings on the wing tips. Caterpillar which fed on leaves and other vegetative parts was dark green, whereas caterpillar which fed on flowers and capsules was slightly pink in color. Nature of damage The leaf webworm attacks all parts of sesame plant except root and it feeds on the tender foliage by webbing top leaves and also bores into the shoots and capsule.  Life cycle Egg: A female moth lays, on an average of 86 eggs. Eggs are laid singly on the under surface of leaves, on capsules and branches. Eggs are minute and conical in shape. Larva: It is a cylindrical caterpillar, which is referred as the neonate larva just after hatching and passes through five larval instars before going in to pupation. Larval Period: 11-16 days. Pupa: The pupa is slender, long necked and greenish-reddish-brown in color. Pupates in silken cocoon under fallen leaves or soil crevices. Pupal Period - 4-7 days. Adult: The adult is medium sized moth with reddish yellow forewings.  Management  Early sowing to escape the damage of webworm.  Intercropping with pigeon pea and black gram, green gram found to be significantly reduced the leaf webber damage.  Collection and destruction of damage plant parts and caterpillar.  Conservation of existing natural enemies (spiders, coccinellid beetles, predatory stink bugs, preying mantids, black ant) and parasitoids (Braconids and Ichneumonids).  ETL : (2 webbed leaves/sq. m or 10% damage) application of botanical insecticides and safer chemicals.  Augmented release of parasitoids such as Apanteles sp and the predators like Chrysoperla carnea also would reduce the population build up.  Two sprays of quinalphos 0.05% at 30 and 45 days after sowing will control the pest effectively.  Two rounds of dusting with malathion 5% dust @ 25 kg/ha at 30 and 45 days after sowing.  4. Diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera:Plutellidae) Host Diamondback moth larvae feed only on mustard, and cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, radish and turnip). Larvae will also feed on some wild cruciferous plants, such as wild mustard. Identification The adults moth measure about 8-12 mm in length and are brown in color and inner margin of forewings are white, which appears like diamond patterns when the wings lie flat over the body. DBM larvae are pale yellowish green tapering into both sides.  Damage symptoms Scrapping of epidermal leaf tissues producing typical whitish patches on leaves creating a “window-paning” effect. When larvae are small, damage is evident as small irregular holes or "shot holes" in the leaves. If larvae are numerous, they may eat the entire leaf, leaving only the veins. On rapeseed, larvae also feed on flower buds, flowers and young seed pods, causing loss of pods and seeds.  Life cycle This insect is active throughout the year. Eggs Yellowish eggs of pin-heads size are laid singly or in batches of 2-40 on the underside of leaves. A female may lay 18-356 eggs on her life time. The eggs hatch in 2 -9 days. Larvae The newly hatched caterpillar bore into the tissue from the underside of leaves and feed in these tunnels. Larvae moult three times, four instar and complete their development and pupate in 10 to 28 days.  The larvae are very sensitive to touch, wind or other physical disturbances and readily feign death. Pupae Before pupating, the larva constructs a barrel shaped silken cocoon, which is open at both ends and is attached to the leaf surface. The pupal stage lasts for 4-5 days at 17-25 °C. Adult The moths may live for as long as 20 days. The life cycle is completed in 32 days during September- October and there are several generation in a year.  Management Remove and destroy all the remnants, stubble, debris etc. after the harvest of the crop and plough the fields. Tomato, chilly intercropped with cabbage inhibit or reduces egg laying by diamond back moth. Mustard can be used as trap crops. Two rows of mustard for every 15 rows of cabbage. As with rain, frequent overhead irrigation disrupts moth activities and washes off caterpillars from the plants. Pheromone DBM lure are used to monitor the diamond back moth population. Planting of marigold also reduced the larval population up to 30-50%. Release larval parasitiod, Cotesia plutellae @200 pupae per ropani. Spray commercial formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis @1- 2 g/liter of water.  The treatment thresholds for broccoli and cauliflower are: 10% plant infestation in the seedbed, 50% plant infestation from transplant to first flower, and 10% infestation from first flower to maturity. If application of chemical pesticides is required, spray any one of them. Azadirachtin 0.03% EC 5 ml / litre of water. Emamectin Benzoate 5% SG 0.5 gm / litre of water. Chlorantraniprole 18.5% SC 1ml/10 litre of water. Cypermethrin 10% EC 2 ml / litre of water.  5. Groundnut leaf miner Aproaeroma modicella, (Lepidoptera : Gelechiidae) Host : Groundnut, soybean and redgram. Identification Adult is dark brown with a white spot on the coastal margin of each forewing. The small hind wings are covered by fringe of minute hair. Damage symptoms Young newly hatched green caterpillar mines into the leaflets and feed on green tissues resulting in brownish dried up patches. Later instars caterpillars fold the leaves together and feed on the green tissues by remaining inside.  Life cycle Egg A female moth lays 150-200 eggs that hatch in 2-3 days. Adults female moth lays shiny eggs singly on the under surface of leaflets. Larvae The larvae are pale brown. Fully grown larva measures 6-8 mm. The larval period is 4- 17 days. Pupae They pupate in white silken cocoons within webbed leaflets and the pupae are reddish brown. The pupal period is 5-7 days. Adult Adult longevity is 5-6 days. Life cycle is completed in 20-25 days. They cause severe damage from September to November to the rainfed crop and during March & April to irrigated crop.  Management Intercrop groundnut with trap crops such as cowpea. Practice crop rotation with non-leguminous crops such as maize, cotton and sorghum. Mulch the soil with straw within 10 days after germination wherever possible. Release Trichogramma chilonis @ 50000/ha twice (7-10 day interval). The chemical spray is only recommended when you have found 5 larvae per plant at the seedling stage i.e. 30 days after emergence (DAE), 10 larvae per plant per plant at the flowering stage (50 DAE), and 15 larvae per plant at the pod filling stage (70 DAE). If the populations are above ETL use a chemical spray with Spinosad 45% SC @ 1ml/ 3 litre, 30-45 days after sowing.  6. Tobacco caterpillar Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Host Polyphagous, feeds on cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, cowpea, sunflower, groundnut etc. Identification Caterpillars are pale brown with a slight greenish to violet colour. They have yellowish-green dorsal stripes and lateral white bands. Adult moth fore-wings have beautiful golden and greyish brown pattern.  Damage symptoms The young larvae first feed gregariously and scrape the leaves. They are mostly active in night, remain hiding under the leaves at day time. Older larvae spread out and may completely devour the leaves, resulting in stunted growth of plants. When there is fruit present, the larvae make holes in the fruit and start feeding on it.  Life cycle Soil 300 eggs 32 -60 days 6 instar stages  Management Plough the soil to expose and kill the pupae. Collect and destroy egg masses , hand pick & kill the larvae. Install traps with Spodolure (a pheromone) 15/ ha to attract male moths. Spray aqueous extracts of neem, chinaberry @ 200 g of leaves (soaked overnight) per litre of water. Spray tobacco decoction i.e. 250 g tobacco+ 30 g liquid soap+4 litre of water boiled for 30 minutes and diluted @ 1:4 parts of water. Release egg parasitoids Trichogramma chilonis in the crop fields for 6 weeks @ 50000 eggs per ha per week soon after the appearance of moths. Spray neem based pesticides such as Margosom 5 ml per litre of water. Use poison baiting. Spread poison baits in furrows. Mix 10 kg rice or wheat bran + 1 kg of jaggery + 500 g chlorpyrifos 3% G and repeat the baiting for 2-3 days. If application of chemical pesticides is required, spray a 0.05 % solution of malathion 50% EC at 7 day intervals.  7. Painted bug Bagrada hilaris (Pentatomidae: Hemiptera) Host plants : Polyphagous insect, mustard, cabbage, cauliflower. It also feeds on maize, sugarcane, bean, potato etc. Identification Adult is a black colored bug with yellow and orange markings on the body. The color of antennae and legs of the adult is black or smoky. Damage symptoms Nymphs as well as adults suck the sap from leaves, shoots and pods and adversely affect the vigour of the plant. Both nymphs and adults excrete resinous substance that damages the siliqua.  Life cycle Female bugs lays egg singly or in cluster of 3-5 eggs on the leaves, petiole and stem of the plant and also in soil below plant debris. Egg period is 3-5 days during summer and 20 days during December. There are five nymphal instars with duration of 22 -34 days. The full-grown black nymphs are about 4 mm long and 2.66 mm broad. Sub-ovate, black adult bugs are 3.71 mm long and 3.33 mm broad with a number of orange or brownish spots. The adult first appears in the field in October months and activity slows down by March to become active and again in the kharif. The entire life cycle is completed in 19-54 days and it passes through 9 generations in a year.  Management Deep ploughing so that the eggs of painted bugs are destroy. Early sowing help to escape pest attack. Irrigate the crop during four weeks after sowing to reduce pest attack. Quick threshing of the harvested crop should be done. Remove the crop residues of previous crop may be burning or performing other activities to disturb the life cycle of pests. The bugs usually congregate on the leaves and stem which can be jerked to dislodged them and killed. Spray the crop with dimethoate 30% EC @ 625ml in 600-700 lit. of water.  8. Mustard aphid Lipaphis erysimi (Homoptera: Aphididae) Host The mustard aphid is a serious pest of cruciferous crops mustard, sarson, cabbage, cauliflower, Knol-khol etc. Identification Polymorphism Adult apterae of Lipaphis erysimi are small to medium sized yellowish green, grey green or olive green aphids, with a faint white wax bloom. Alatae have a dusky green abdomen, is transparent homogenous wings.  Damage symptoms The damage is caused by both nymphs and adults. They are seen feeding in large number, often covering the entire surface of flower buds, shoots, pods etc. It also secretes the honeydew which is responsible for development of sooty mould and reduces the photosynthetic rate.  Life cycle This aphid has two modes producing young fertilization of females by males resulting in the production of eggs (sexual reproduction), and the birthing of live female nymphs by adult females without fertilization by males (parthenogenesis) This insect is most abundant form December to March when it infests various cruciferous oilseeds and vegetables. Parthenogenesis is common for mustard aphid. The pest breeds parthenogenetically and the females give birth to 26- 133 nymphs. They grow very fast and are full fed in 7-10 days. About 45 generation are completed in a year. Sexual reproduction results egg laying along the veins of leaves. Four nymphal stages. Cloudy and cold weather (20°C or below) is very favorable for the multiplication of this pest. The winged forms are produced in autumn and spring, and they spread from field to field and from locality to locality.  Management Application of adequate amount of nitrogen fertilizers. Mustard crop should be irrigated twice to avoid heavy aphid infestation. Set up yellow sticky trap to monitor the aphid population. Conserve the natural enemies.  Lady bird beetles – Coccinella septumpunctata  Several species of Syrphids- Eristallis spp., Metasyrphus spp., Xanthogramma spp., Syrphus spp. are predating on aphids.  Braconid parasitoid, Diaeretiella rapae  Green lace wing , Chrysoperla cornea  ETL : 9-19 aphid/ central shoot and 20% infestation  Verticillium lecanii 1.15% WP (5gm /litre) of water also help to control the aphids population.  Spray the crop with any one of the following insecticides as Azadirachtin 0.03% EC 5ml / litre of water, Imidacloprid 17.8% SL (1 ml / 5 litre) of water, Acetamiprid 20% SP ( 1 gm /litre) of water.  9. Cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) Host It is a serious pest of cauliflower, cabbage, broccauli, radish, mustard etc. Identification  Short cornicles and the waxy coating found on cabbage aphids help differentiate cabbage aphids from other aphids that may attack the same host plant.  They are commonly occurs in dense colonies, often covered with wax droplets.  Damage symptoms  Both nymph and adults suck cell sap from leaves, stem, inflorescence, or the developing pods.  Due to the very high population of the pest the vitality of plants is greatly reduced.  The leaves acquire a curly appearance, the flower fail to form pods and the developing pods do not produce healthy seeds.  The cabbage aphid’s mode of pathogen transmission is non-persistent: the aphid picks up the virus by feeding on infected plants and transfers the pathogen to healthy plants by probing with its mouthparts or feeding.  The yield of an infested crop is greatly reduced.  Life cycle Eggs : Eggs are white in colour and laid along the veins of leaves. Eggs are not laid in warm climates; females produce female nymphs directly. Nymph: There are four nymphal stages (instars). The nymphal period varies from seven to ten days. Adult: Aphids are small, soft-bodied, pear-shaped insects that have a pair of cornicles (wax secreting tubes) projecting out from the fifth or sixth abdominal segment. Wingless, female, aphids are yellowish green, gray green or olive green with a white waxy bloom covering the body. The winged, female, adult aphids have a dusky green abdomen with dark lateral stripes separating the body segments and dusky wing veins. Male aphids are olive-green to brown in color. The aphid attacks generally during 2nd and 3rd week of December and continues till March.  Management  Early sowing the crop, preferably up to third week of October.  Mustard as a trap crop has been found useful for management of cabbage aphids.  Set up yellow sticky trap to monitor the aphid population.  Conserve the natural enemies.  Lady bird beetles – Coccinella septumpunctata  Several species of Syrphids- Eristallis spp., Metasyrphus spp., Xanthogramma spp., Syrphus spp. are predating on aphids.  Braconid parasitoid, Diaretiella rapae  Green lace wing , Chrysoperla cornea  Different alternative means can be used for the management of aphids population in kitchen gardening.  Use of neem based pesticides.  Cow urine : Water , 1: 5 ratio can be used.  Ash : Water, 1: 4 ratio soaked overnight and sieve it. Add 10 gm of soap / 10 litre of water and spray.  ETL : If more than 20% of leaves are infested with aphids, then an insecticide application is recommended.  Verticillium lecanii 1.15 WP (5gm /litre) of water also control the aphids population.  Spray the crop with any one of the following Insecticides as Azadirachtin 0.03% EC 5ml / litre of water, Imidacloprid 17.8% SL (1 ml / 5 litre) of water, Acetamiprid 20% SP ( 1 gm /litre) of water.  10. Linseed gallfly Dasineura lini (Cecidomyiidae: Diptera) Identification The adult of this gall-midge is a small orange fly. Maggots are whitish, legless. Damage symptoms The damage is caused by maggots, which feed on the flower buds and prevent their proper opening. Due to their feeding, galls are produced and there is no pod formation. The infested buds become hollow and can be easily distinguished from the healthy buds.  Life cycle / Bionomics / Biology of insects Eggs The female lays 29-103 smooth, transparent eggs in the folds of 8-17 flowers or in tender green buds, either singly or in clusters of 3-5. The eggs hatch in 2-5 days. Larvae Just after emergence, the larvae are transparent, with a yellow patch on the abdomen. They pass through four instars in 4-10 days and when full-grown become deep pink and measure about 2 mm in length. Pupae The full-grown maggots drop to the ground, prepare a cocoon and pupate in the soil. The pupal period lasts 4-9 days. Adult After a week an adult emerge out. A generation is completed in 10-24 days. There are four overlapping generations during the season.  Management 1. The adult flies can be killed by using light traps. The flies are also attracted in daytime to molasses added to water. 2. As the incidence of this pest is more on the late-sown crop as compared with the normal-sown crop, the practice of normal-sown crops should be adopted if possible. 3. Conserve larval parasitoids viz., Systasis dasyneurae Mani (Miscogasteridae), Elasmus sp. (Elasmidae), Eurytoma sp. (Eurytomidae), Torymus sp. (Torymidae) and Tetrastichus sp. (Eulophidae).  11. Flea beetle Phyllotreta cruciferae (Coleoptera; Chyrosmelidae) Hosts The flea beetles attack almost all the cruciferous plants. The common fields crops like mustard, broad leaf mustard, radish, turnip, cabbage, cauliflower and knol-khol etc. Identification The dorsum of the adult beetle P. cruciferae is black, blue or metallic gray in color. The body is elongated narrow in front but broad distally. The beetle is round at the anal end. The larva is dirty white in color with pale white head measures about 5 mm in length.  Life Cycle This pest is active throughout the year except during the winter months, when it hibernates in the soil or among plant debris. The over wintered adult beetles emerge in the last weeks of February or in the beginning of March & settle on the growing cruciferous plants. The female beetle laid 50-80 creamy white eggs singly in the soil around the host plants, during the oviposition period of 25-30 days. The incubation period ranges between 5-10 days. The larva is very active and feeds on the tender roots of the host plant, which molt thrice during a total larval period of 9-15 days. The larva before entering into the pre-pupal stage wriggles out of the mined roots & prepares an earthen cell, 0.5 mm long, in the vicinity of the infested plants where it pupate. The pre-pupal period is 2-4 days and the pupal stage lasts 8-14 days. There are 7-8 generation of this pest in a year.  Damage symptoms The adult mostly feed on the leaves by chewing leaves forming small holes or pits. The tissue around the feeding area becomes necrotic forming shot hole. Larvae are the root feeders. On mature crops adults feed on green pods and