The Gazetteers Department

Boll worms, bond alya: There are two types of boll worms— (a); spotted boll worms, tlnipakyanchi bond ati (Earis fabia, S. and E. insulana B). and (b) Pink boll worms, shendri bond ali (Platyedra gossypialla, S.). The adults of the former have pale white upper wings with, a greenish band in the middle, while the adults of the latter have the upper wings completely greenish. The caterpillars of both the species, however, are brownish white and have a dark head and prothoracic shield. They have a number of black and brown spots on the body.

In case of spotted boll worms, the caterpillars bore into the growing shoots of the plants in the initial stage of the crop. Later on when flower buds appear larvae bore into them and then enter in the bolls by making holes which are plugged with excreta. The infested buds and bolls are shed but if they remain on the plant they open prematurely. Consequently lint from such bolls is of inferior quality and fetches low price in the market.

The caterpillars of the pink boll worms on the other, hand never attack the shoots. They feed inside the bolls and make them drop down. The pest is more harmful to American cotton varieties than Indian ones. As the caterpillars bore into the bolls, the entrance holes get closed and thus it becomes very difficult to locate the affected bolls until such bolls drop down or open prematurely.

The pest can be effectively controlled by the following methods: —

(1) Removal and destruction of stubbles to check carryover of the pest to the next season.

(2) Destruction of all the malvaceous plants growing in off season which serve as alternate hosts for. the pest.

(3) Fumigation of seed before sowing with carbon-disulphide at the rate of two ounces per 15 cubic feet or heating the seed at 145� F. to destroy hibernating pink boll larvae.

(4) Quick removal and destruction of the affected plant parts in the early stage of the pest incidence.

(5) Six dustings with a mixture of 10 per cent D.D.T., two per cent lindane and 40 per cent sulphur or with one per cent endrin.

(6) Six sprayings, at fortnightly intervals with endrin at the rate of six ounces per acre commencing from a month prior to flowering. Sulphur is added to this mixture in equal quantity to avoid subsequent mite incidence.

Red cotton bug, tambadya dhekanya (Dysdercus cingulatus Fabr.): Both adults and nymphs suck plant sap and greatly impair the vitality of the plant. They also feed on the seed and lower their oil contents. The lint gets soiled due to the excreta of these insects. The pest is active from October to February.

The pest can be controlled by collecting the adults and nymphs in large numbers by shaking them in a tray containing little kerosene added to ordinary water and by spraying the crop with 5 per cent B.H.C. dust.

Jassids, tudtude (Empoasaca devastans, Dist.): The adult is wedge shaped and pale green in colour. The nymphs are wingless and are found in large numbers on the lower surface of leaves. They walk diagonally. Both the adults and nymphs suck the cell sap from leaves as a result of which the leaf margins turn yellowish and in case of excessive infestation reddening and drying up of leaves by stunted growth are seen. The pest is active during the monsoon season.

The following are the important measures of controlling the pest: —

Spraying the crop with five per cent D.D.T. at the rate of 15 to 20 lbs. per acre proves very effective. However, the use of D.D.T. alone should be avoided as it leads to excessive increase in mite population. A mixture of 5 per cent D.D.T. and an equal quantity of sulphur is, therefore, used to control the pest. This mixture is however harmful for Indian or Asiatic cotton as sulphur scorches these varieties severely. About 0.01 per cent to 0.02 per cent parathion or two to four ounces of endrin are least expensive and most effective against the pest.

Aphids, mava (Aphis gossypii, Glover) is another pest of cotton. The nymphs and adults of this pest suck the cell yap from the leaves due to which leaves turn yellowish and dry.

Spraying the crop with nicotine sulphate at the rate of one pound in 80 gallons of water with 5 lbs. of soap or spraying it with pyrethrum extract in the proportion of one part in 1,000 parts of water effectively controls the pest.

Jowar.

Towar stem borer khodkida (Chilo Zanellus Szvinh): The caterpillars arc dirty white with many spots on the body and with a brown head. They bore inside the stems causing thereby drying of the central shoots called ' dead hearts'. This results in reddening of leaves and stems. The pest being an internal feeder, only preventive measures as noted below are found practicable and economic—

(1) The affected plants bearing caterpillars inside the stems are pulled out and destroyed promptly.

(2) After harvest, the stubbles of crop are collected and burnt to destroy the hibernating larvae.

(3) The jowar fodder is cut into small pieces before it is served to cattle.

Jowar stem fly, khod mashi (Atherigona indica): Its maggots are legless and feed inside the stems of young plants. The adults are similar to house flies but are very much smaller in size and on their dorsal side, there are a few dark spots. Removing and destroying the dead seedlings along with the maggots helps in controlling the pest.

Army worms, lashkar ali (Cirphis, unipunota): The caterpillars are found in the central, whorl of plants, or may remain under stubbles around the plants in soil. They feed on leaves mostly at night, while during the day they remain hidden in the whorl or in the clods. They migrate from one field to another when their food is exhausted. Generally it is observed that when a long dry spell follows a good start of monsoon, the pest assumes epidemic form and subsides if heavy showers occur thereafter.

Five per cent B.H.C. or endrin dust, if properly dusted at the rate of 50 lbs. per acre successfully controls the pest. As the pest is a night feeder, the dusting done in the evening when there is less breeze, is more effective. Fifty per cent B.H.C. wettable powder may be used as a spray after diluting one pound in 25 gallons of water. About 80 to 100 gallons of spray per acre are required to control the pest. Five per cent B.H.C. poison bait if broadcast in the evening will also control the pest. The Last controlling measure will be more effective if it does not rain and the soil at that time is dry.

Hoppers and aphids. tudtude and mava (Peregrinus maidis, Ashm. and Rhopolosiphum maidis, F and Aphid sacchari Zhent.): Both delphacids and aphids are responsible for causing the sugary secretion on jowar. The symptoms are locally known as chikta. The pest is very severe especially on rabi jowar. It can be controlled by spraying the crop with 0.02 per cent diazinon, endrin or by dusting it with 5 to 10 per cent B.H.C. dust at the rate of 20 lbs. per acre.

Bajri.

Blister beetle, hinge or ball (Zonabris pustulata): The beetles are black with yellowish brown stripes across their wings and over an inch long and about half an inch thick. When crushed on the human body, it causes a blister. They eat pollen and thus affect the setting of grains in the earhead. The adult stage of the pest is harmful while its larval stage is beneficial as the larvae feed on eggs of grass hoppers laid in the soil.

Preventive measures consist of collection of beetles by means of hand-net and their destruction. Five per cent B.H.C. dust dusted at the rate of 20 lbs. per acre helps in controlling the pest.

Wheat.

Wheat stem borer, khod kida (Sesamia inferena Wlk.). The Wheat, pest generally causes damage to rabi crop of wheat. It also affects maize in dry weather. The fully fed caterpillar is about an inch long, flesh coloured with black head and dark spots on the body. Each dark spot bears a hair. They are found inside the stems of the affected plants. The caterpillar bores inside the stem, thus causing drying of the central, shoot. While entering the shoot, the initial feeding of the caterpillar on the whorl gives rise to numerous holes on the leaves which develop later. Drying of the plant often leads to reddening of stems. As this pest also is an internal feeder, the control measures discussed above in respect of jowar stem borer are identically applicable here also.

Paddy.

The Stem borer, khod kida: The nature of damage and its controlling measures are the same as described under jowar stem borer.

Swarming caterpillar, lashkari ali: The full grown caterpillars measure about l� inches long and dark greenish with slight yellow tinge. They can readily be distinguished from other caterpillars by the presence of white longitudinal dorsal stripes along the length of their body. Their heads are dark. On hatching, the caterpillars feed on grass or young paddy seedlings. They are active only at night, and during the day they hide in leaf sheaths or leaf whorls or in soil, if it is not flooded.

Preventive measures include protection of seed beds by deep trenching with steep sides and hand collection of egg masses and their destruction. The caterpillars during the day time hide under clods, so trapping them under planks or small bunches of dry grass may be tried. Dragging rope across the field may be resorted to after flooding the affected fields so that caterpillars in the leaf sheaths and whorls drop into the water. After the harvest of the crop, the affected fields should he ploughed to expose the pupae. The pest can also be successfully controlled by dusting 5 per cent B.H.C. at the rate of 20 to 30 lbs. per acre. The dusting if done in the evening will give better control as the caterpillars come out to feed at night. Where rains are frequent, spraying B.H.C. water dispersible powder by diluting 5 lbs. of 50 per cent B.H.C. in 100 gallons of water can be tried. About 60 to 100 gallons of spray per acre should be used for effective control.

Rice case worm, suralyatil ali: The full-grown caterpillars are greenish white, � inch long and semi-aquatic, and generally feeding on foliage inside tubular cases formed of pieces of paddy leaves. The caterpillars cut the paddy leaves into short lengths, construct tubular cases and remain inside them while feeding.

Preventive measures include removal and destruction of the tubular cases along with the caterpillars. In the early stages of the crop before flowering, rope dragging may be tried to dislodge the caterpillars after flooding the infested field and putting into it a little crude oil. Insecticides recommended for the blue beetle will also control the pest to some extent. But one part of pyrethrum extract in 600 parts of water or 0.375 per cent D.D.T. spray obtained by mixing 7 to 8 lbs. of 50 per cent water dispersible powder in 100 gallons of water has shown| better results,

Paddy blue beetle, nile bhungere: Both grubs and beetles feed on the surface of leaves of the young paddy crop. The infestation generally takes place before flowering. They cat the green portion of leaves in characteristic and linear patches along veins, which ultimately turn white and dry up. The pest is active from July to September. The pest is supposed to hibernate in wild grasses during the off season, probably as an adult.

The pest can be controlled by dusting 5 per cent B.H.C. dust at the rate of 15 to 20 lbs. per acre or spraying 0.2 per cent B.H.C. spray obtained by mixing 4 lbs. of 50 per cent B.H.C. water soluble powder in 100 gallons of water. At least 60 To 80 gallons should be used per acre.

Rice hispa, karpa: Both grubs and beetles injure the leaves of the paddy crop generally prior to flowering. The grub is a leaf miner and remains within the leaf tissue, feeding and creating patches on leaves which ultimately turn white and dry up. The adult is also a leaf-feeder, and starts feeding on the leaf surface in characteristic, parallel white lines which ultimately wither. This pest many times appears along with the paddy blue beetle and can be readily controlled by 5 per cent B.H.C. dust used for blue beetle control.

Tur.

Tur plume moth, pisari patang (Exelastis atomosa; W.): The pest affects crops of tur and wal. Full grown caterpillars bore into green pods and feed on developing seeds. On hatching thcv scrape the surface of pods, gradually cut holes, feed on seed and become full-grown in about four weeks.

Preventive measures include collection of caterpillars by shaking shoots and pods in small trays containing a mixture of kerosene and water. Similarly leguminous crops are not taken in the same fields during successive years. Insecticidal control measures mentioned under gram pod borer (Heliothis (arimigem) obsoleta) may also be^-tried with advantage.

Gram.

Gram pod borer, ghatyatil ali (Holiothis obsaleta. F.): The caterpillars are greenish with dark broken grey lines along the sides of the body. They feed on tender foliage and voting pods. They make holes in the pods and eat the developing seeds by inserting the anterior half portion of their body inside the pods. The pest also affects other crops, such as. cotton, tomato, peas, tobacco, safflower, etc. It is active from November to March.

Preventive measures include band picking of caterpillars and their destruction in the early stages of attack. Thorough ploughing after harvesting the crop in order to expose pupae is also resorted to. The pest can also be controlled by diluting one pound of 50 per cent water dispersible D.D.T. powder in 25 gallons of water. About 60 to 80 gallons on a young crop and 100 gallons on a grown up crop are generally required.

Groundnut.

Aphids, mava: They are small, black, soft bodied insects Groundnut. found on the lower side of leaves. The pest is a very important one as it reduces the vitality and yield of plants by sucking the sap and also acts as the vector of a serious virus disease commonly known as ' Rosette ' of groundnut. The pest is of sporadic occurrence but sometimes it takes the form of an epidemic. The species of the pest become abundant in the kharif season. Spraying of 10 per cent B.H.C. dust helps in controlling the pest.

Sesamum.

Sesamum gall fly, tilavaril pili kane: The adult is like a small delicate mosquito, while the larval stage is legless and the larva remains inside the gall.

The maggots are found inside the young flower buds and the irritation causes gall formation and interferes with the process of pod formation. Consequently, the buds wither without bearing fruit.

It is a specific pest of sesamum and is not yet observed on other crops. The eggs are laid on flowers and the maggots feed on the contents of the flower and then develop into pupae. They emerge as adults. Only preventive measures are helpful to avoid the pest. Thus no stray plants should be allowed to grow in the off season so as to avoid giving rise to conditions favourable to the breeding of the pest. All the infested buds -should be scrupulously clipped and destroyed.

Sphinx moth, panekhanari ali: The moth is large with a dark grey, bluish thorax. The abdomen is yellow with black bands. The fore wings are dark-brown. The full-fed larva is 90 mm long and stout with a rough skin and with an anal horn at the abdominal end. It is light greenish in colour and has eight yellow stripes on its body. The caterpillars feed extensively on leaves. As the caterpillar is very large hand-picking can be practised. Dusting the crop with 5 per cent B.H.C. may also be effective.

Sugarcane.

Sugarcane stem borer, khod kida: A fully developed larva measures about 1� inches and is greyish white in colour. The body is often covered with dark marks.

The pest is mainly injurious to young cane. The caterpillars enter the plants from the side at ground level by making holes in the stalk and may bore either downwards or upwards or both ways. Thus, the central shoots dry up, causing ' dead hearts' which is a characteristic sign of the presence of the pest. A dead heart can easily be pulled out.

The following are the controlling measures of the pest—

(1) Removal of affected plants having ' dead hearts' right from the ground level, ensuring that the larva or pupae has come out in the portion removed.

(2) Early planting in November or December in the case of plant cane and late planning in August or September in the case of adsali cane will help in minimising the infestation, as the pest is less active during these months.

(3) Trichogamma parasites may be released at the rate of one lakh of parasites per acre in three instalments at an interval of a fortnight in the infested field.

(4) Light earthing up of cane will prevent the emergence of the moth by closing the holes with mud.

Sugarcane top shoot borer (Scirpohaga nivella, F.): The moth is creamy white in colour having a wing span of a little over an inch when spread out and with orange hair like structures at the tip of the abdomen of the female. The first pair of the wings of certain males has a single black spot on each wing. Fully developed caterpillars measure about one and a half inches in length and are yellowish white in colour.

This is a very serious pest of sugarcane that breeds throughout the year and is capable of attacking cane at a later stage. The newly hatched caterpillar after remaining for some time on the leaves, enters the shoots through the mid rib of the leaf. Tt feeds as it travels downward. As a result of such feeding, the central shoot dries up in a characteristic way which later results in giving off side shoots which form a bunchy top. The punctures on the leaves and the death of the central shoot and the bunchy top are the characteristic effects of this pest.

Mechanical methods, such as, mass collection and destruction of egg masses and removal of affected plants and harvesting the crop by digging out the stump are the only effective measures known so far.

Sugarcane leaf-hoppers or Pyrilla: The adult pyrilla bug is a straw coloured insect with two pairs of folded wings, roof shaped on the back and with its head extended like a printed beak which is quite readily visible. The young nymphs which hatch out from the eggs are pale brown in colour, having a pair of long characteristic processes covered by wax. They are active and are found in large numbers on cane. Its host plant is mainly sugarcane but adults are sometimes found in small numbers on jowar and maize.

The nymphs and adult bugs stick the sap of cane leaves from the lower surface, as a result of which the leaves lose turgidity, begin to wither and ultimately get dried up. The bugs secrete a honey-dew like substance that spreads on the leaves on which a black fungus develops. As a result the sucrose content of the juice is reduced. The pest is active during July and August.

The following are the main measures of controlling this pest—

(1) Collection and destruction of egg masses and crushing them on the leaves.

(2) Stripping off the lower leaves to remove the eggs laid in the leaf sheath.

(3) Dusting the crop with 5 per cent B.H.C. at the rate of: 30 to 40 lbs. and 50 to 60 lbs. per acre in the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods, respectively. This destroys both the nymphs and the adults of the pest.

(4) Spraying 0.12 to 0.25 per cent B.H.C. or 0.25 per cent D.D.T. at the rate of 30 to 50 gallons per acre for young cane during the pre-monsoon period and over 100 gallons during the post-monsoon period also gives considerable relief. The quantity to he used depends on the growth of cane, and hence enough quantity should he used to cover the entire crop.

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