This document discusses the turmeric plant and one of its major pests, the turmeric shoot borer (Conogethes punctiferalis). It provides details on the identification, life cycle, damage caused, and management of the shoot borer pest. It notes that the shoot borer larvae bore into and feed on the turmeric shoots and rhizomes, reducing yields. For management, the document recommends using resistant varieties, natural enemies, proper sanitation, and chemical pesticide sprays timed to control populations.

1. 3/30/2013 AJITHKUMAR

2. • India is considered as ‘The land of spices’ and
enjoys from time immemorial a unique position
in the production and export of turmeric.
• These crops are cultivated for their underground
rhizomes, which are used in many ways
• Turmeric is used as a coloring agent, in
confectioneries, and as an antiseptic in cosmetics.

5. Shoot borer
Leaf roller
Rhizome scale
Rhizome fly
Turmeric
Bihar hairy caterpillar
Thrips

6. Stage
Common Name Scientific Name
affected
All stages of
Shoot borer Conogethes punctiferalis
the crop
Leaf roller Udaspes folus 2-5 months
Rhizome
Rhizome scale Aspidiella hartii
formation
Lace wing bug Stephanitis typicus 2-5 months
Bihar hairy
Diacrisia obliqua 2-5 months
caterpillar
Rhizome
Rhizome fly Mimegralla coeruleifrons
formation

7. Conogethes punctiferalis; Synonym: Dichocrosis punctiferalis
(Pyralidae: Lepidoptera)
• It is the most important serious pest of
turmeric and it was first recorded by Fletcher
(1914).
Crop Loss
• When 50 per cent of the pseudostem in a
clump was affected, there was a reduction of
38 g of yield per clump (Fletcher 1914).

8. larva
• The larvae bore into the pseudostems and
feed on the growing shoot.
• Larvae always within the pseudostem.

9. • Yellowing and drying of infested shoots.
• The larvae bores into the rhizome also.
• The presence of bore holes in the Pseudostem
through which frass is extruded and the
withered central shoots (dead hearts) are
characteristics symptoms of pest infestation.

11. Identificatio
n
• Egg: is pink, oval, flat and lays singly or in group
on the tender part of the plant
• Larva: is long, pale greenish with a pinkish dots
dorsally, head and pro-thoracic shield brown in
colour and body covered with minute hairs
arising on wards.
• Pupa: Pupation takes place in lose silken cocoon
in larval tunnel.
• Adult: is a medium sized moth, the wings are pale
yellowish with black spots on the wings

12. Adult Larva
Pupa

13. • IP - 3-4 days. 30-60 pinkish oval flat eggs during
their life span.
• Larval period: five larval instars and the larval
periods were 3-4,4- 5, 5-7, 7-8 and 8-14 days
respectively for the five instars.
• Full grown larvae were light brown/pale green
and 16-26 mm in length. The prepupal and pupal
periods were 3-4 and 9-10 days respectively.
• Larva pupates inside the affected pseudostem in
a thin silk cocoon.
• In the field, 6-7 generations were completed
during a crop season.

14. Alternative hosts
The shoot borer is highly polyphagous.
The alternate hosts include cardamom, guava,
mango, peaches, pomegranate, jack, ginger,
avacado, mulberry, loquat, pear, sorghum,
cacao, castor, tamarind, amaranthus, soapnut,
holly hocks, Caesalpinia bonducella,
Anona and Cherimelia.

15. Life cycle
• The moths lay eggs on leaves and other soft parts of the plant.
The eggs hatch in about a week.
• The larvae pass through 4–5 instars and are full fledged in 2–3
weeks.
• Pupation takes place inside the seed or sometimes in the
grass that collects after feeding. The pupal stage lasts about
one week.
• The life cycle is completed in 4– 5 weeks and 6 to 7
generations are completed in a year. The pest is most active
from July to October.
Economic threshold level
• Management methods should be adopted at a stage when
there is 1 egg mass per squaremeter.

16. • RESISTANT VARIETIES :
• Dindigam, Ca-68, Mannuthy local
• Most susceptible - Amruthapani, Kothapeta
and C 11-317
• Spraying any one of the following during July -
October was the most effective.
– Malathion 50 EC - 1000 ml/ha
– Quinalphos 25 EC - 500 ml/ha

17. Natural
enemies
• Angitia (=Dioctes) tronchanterata
• Xanthopimpla australis
• Microbracon hebetor
• Theromia inareolata
• Bracon brevicornis
• B. nosatoi
• B. lasus
• Phanerotoma hendecasisella
• Myosoma sp.
• Apanteles sp.
• Dolichurus sp.
• Brachymeria euloeae,
• Mermethid nematode, dermapteran, asilid flies and spider.

18. Bracon brevicornis
Myosoma sp.
Apanteles sp.

19. • Seed rhizomes should be free from any infection
or infestation. Biocides like Trichoderma may be
used while planting seed rhizome.
• Keep the plot weed free.
• Use biofertiliser as per soil test recommendation
Proper drainage facilities must be provided to
drain off stagnant water. Best choice of land
should be with a gentle slope. Gently sloping land
is best.
• Visit the field periodically to check for pests or
disease.
• Install light traps for collecting and monitoring
shoot borer adult moths, if such infestation is
observed.

20. Udaspes folus (Hesperiidae, Lepidoptera)
• Which can be seen frequently on turmeric crop
and sometimes cause devastating damage under
favourable climatic conditions.
• Alternate hosts: Arrow root, ginger, cardamom,
wild lilies etc
• Damaging stage: larva or caterpiller
• Nature of damage: larva soon after hatching
initially start scraping later it goes on feed on
leaves by rolling the leaves together.

21. Symptoms of Damage
• Leaves become folded or rolled longitudinally.
• Complete defoliation
Identification of pest
• Larva: is smooth green with black head
• Adult : It is brownish black butterfly
Forewing: has a white spots
Hind wing: has a large white patch

23. • The butterflies emerge in February or March and lay eggs
before they die. The eggs remain dormant till the rains, that
is, usually the month of May, when they hatch.
• The caterpillars pupate in September–October and the adults
emerge four to six months later. In some cases the caterpillars
pupate later and in these cases the pupa remain dormant,
throughout the dry season, till May when the rains begin.
Eggs
• The female normally sits on the underside of the leaf of the
host plant and lays a single egg. The egg is reddish and
appears smooth and dome shaped. When about to hatch it
turns white with a red top.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udaspes_folus

24. Larva : Soon after hatching, the caterpillar does not
consume the eggshell completely and it makes itself a
spacious cell and hides inside it. The caterpillar is
sluggish and comes out to feed only at night. Even
when disturbed it is reluctant to leave its cell.
• caterpillar of grass demon(threat) on turmeric
• Caterpillar constructing its leaf shelter
• The full grown larva has the habit of resting with the
first three segments contracted, so as to give a humped
appearance. It always lies closely applied to the leaf, by
turning over a triangular piece from the edge onto the
upper surface over itself.

25. Pupa
• Pupation takes place on the same plant within a cell.
The pupa is long and cylindrical, watery green in
colour. It has a long conical projection in front of the
head.
• The most striking characteristic of the pupa is its
proboscis. It is long and thin generally extending up
to and a little beyond the tip of the abdomen. The
pupa is the same color of the caterpillar and
unmarked. It is covered in a thin layer of white
powder. The body band is neither too tight nor too
loose and allows the pupa to wriggle if disturbed.

26. Managemen
t
• Sanitation
• Natural enemies viz., egg parasitoid: Trichogramma
sps;
• larval parasitoids: Brachymeria bengalinsis
pulchellae; Elasmus indicus; Apanteles spp.; Bracon
lefroyi; Microbracon recinicola; and Pupal
parasitoids: Trichospilus pupivora and Xanthopimpla
spp
• A spray with carbaryl (0.1%) or quinolphos 2 ml/lt.
may be undertaken when the severe infestation

27. Aspidiella hartii, A. cucumae (Cockerell)
Diaspididae :Hemiptera
• This is one of the important pests infesting the
ginger and turmeric both in field and in
storage (of seed rhizomes).
• Alternate hosts:
• Amorphophallus companulatus, Dioscorea
alatta and Xanthossoma sagittifollum.
• DS – Both crawlers and adults

28. • The insect fixes itself on the host by means of thread
like rostrum. In initial stage of infestation in storage,
the white coloured scales are seen scattered on
rhizomes and latter they congregate near the growing
buds.
• When the infestation is severe the rhizome and buds
shrivel and ultimately the entire rhizome dries. In field,
in severe cases of infestation plants look devitalized,
pale and withered before drying completely.
• In such cases at the time of harvest minute yellowish
crawlers can be seen moving in large numbers and this
is the potential stage of dissemination.

29. • The scale reproduces ovoviviparously or sometimes
parthenogenetically. The transparent eggs are oval and
yellowish measuring 0.25 mm in length and 0.17 mm breadth.
• About 100 eggs are laid by a single female and the crawlers
emerge from the eggs usually within a day. The crawlers
emerging from the eggs are seen huddled near the mother
scale. With a day of emergence, the crawler searches out an
appropriate spot on the rhizome and starts feeding by
sucking.
• The male crawlers when fully mature pupate. The adult males
move among the colonies for mating. The adult male is
orange coloured with transparent wings, distinct head, thorax
and abdomen.

30. • The tumeric root scale belongs to a family of scales
called the armored scales.
• EGGS : The elongate eggs, with ends equally
rounded, are laid within the puparium.

31. NYMPHS : The first stage larvae are active crawlers for a
short time before selecting a feeding site. Once feeding begins
the waxy protective shield starts to form.
• The second stage larvae occur after the first molt in which the
discarded skin becomes incorporated into the puparium. This
stage is similar in appearance to the adult except it does not
have the grouped circumgenital glands.
• The last stage is sometimes referred to as pupae. They have
lost all traces of mouth organs and are thus a non-feeding
stage. They posses rudimentary legs, antennae, wings and
stylus (mouth).

32. ADULTS : Adults are moderately convex,
approximately 1/20 inch in diameter, and brownish-
gray with a slight purplish tint. Females are generally
circular in shape where males are more oval. Refer to
Cockerell (1895) or Williams (1988) for a detailed
microscopic description.
• Females have rudimentary antennae and are unable
to move about.
BEHAVIOR
• This scale is sedentary once it selects a feeding site.

34. 1. Selecting healthy rhizomes free from scale infestation for seed
materials will help in preventing this pest entering in new
areas.
2. To ensure the seed materials free from the scale infestation,
the rhizomes could be treated with any one of the insecticides
viz., DDVP (Dichlorvos), monocrotophos, phosalone at 0.05%.
3. The scale infested rhizomes are to be dipped in the insecticidal
fluid for 15 minutes; air dried and can be stored on sand. The
sprouting of rhizome was not affected by these insecticides.
The treated rhizomes must be kept at least for a week before
planting to get the maximum effect of the toxicants.
4. Two hymenopteran parasites, Physcus sp., and Adelecrytus
moderatus, attack this pest.

35. Mimegralla coeruleifrons Micropezidae: Diptera
• It is reported from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and
Maharashtra. It also infests ginger. Flies are noticed in
the field during August - September.
• Adult flies are dark blackish. Wings are transparent
with three light ashy bands. Tarsi of forelegs are white
in colour
• The whitish eggs are laid on the lower surface of leaves
or in soil in the vicinity of plants or on exposed
rhizomes. Egg period is 4 days.
• Maggot is creamy white, apodous and 9 mm long.

37. Nature of damage
• In the beginning the maggots bore into the
shoot causing dead hearts.
• Finally they reach rhizomes and feed on
them.
• In association with Pythium they cause rotting
of the rhizomes.

38. • Dead hearts due to primary injury
• Wilting and drying of aerial plants
• Rotting of rhizomes due to invasion of fungus,
Pythium sp. through feeding injuries caused by
the maggot.

39. Life
cycle
• Eggs will hatch within 5 to 6 days. The larval
period is completed in 17 days and pupation
takes place in tunnel of rhizomes or soil.
• Adult fly emerges in 14 days.
• The adult has a longevity of 18 days.
• The fly completes its life cycle in 38-62 days

40. • Removal of dead hearts and rotting rhizomes along with
maggots after harvest.
• Treating seed material in dimethoate 2ml/l solution before
planting.
• Spraying monocrotophos 1.6 ml/l or fenitrothion 2 ml/l two
sprays.
• Avoiding waterlogging in the field.
• As soon as rotting of rhizome is noticed, application of
neem cake 100 Kg/ac or carbofuran 3G 10 Kg/ac + equal
quantity of sand

41. Spilarctia (Spilosoma) obliqua (Arctiidae:Lepidoptera)
• This pest damages the turmeric plants
extensively in Bihar and West bengal states.
• It is a highly polyphagous pest.
• Alternate hosts - sunflower, millets, cotton, jute,
sunhemp, castor, cauliflower, cabbage etc.
• It has been reported to feed on 96 plant species in
India.

42. Damaging stage – Damage is caused by the
caterpillars. The larva defoliates the plants and
move from one field to another.
Nature of Damage
• First two stages the tiny caterpillars feed
gregariously
• Older larvae disperse widely in search of food.
• For identification and life cycle see insect
pests of beans

43. • The adult is dull yellow with oblique line of
black dots on hind wings. The dorsal side of
the abdomen is red with dull yellow ventral
side.
• The full grown larva is darkened with
yellowish brown abdomen having numerous
pale white brown and black hairs and
measures about 43 mm.
• Pupation - soil

45. Management:
• Collection and destruction of egg masses and gregarious
larva.
• application of NSKE 5 % and foliar sprays particularly for
grown up larva with phasalone 2 ml/l or chlorpyriphos 2 ml/l
or dichlorvos 1 ml/l are effective measures.
• Moths can be trapped in artificial light and killed
• Young gregarious caterpillars can be collected and killed
manually in kerosinized water.

46. Stephanitis typicus Tingidae: Hemiptera.
• It also infests banana, coconut, turmeric, cardamom.
Bugs measure about 4 mm long with transparent, shiny
reticulated wings and black body.
• The pest infestation is more common during the post
monsoon period especially in drier regions of the
country.
• Nymphs and adults suck sap from leaf surface causing
yellowing of leaves in patches which dry and drop off.
• Black resinous excretion in tiny spots are seen between
the damaged areas

47. • Symptoms: leaves turn yellow and black
resinous excretions in the form of tiny spots
may be seen between the damaged areas.
• Mangement : Foliar spray with malathion
2ml/l or oxy demeton methyl 2ml/l, or
dimethoate 2 ml/l is effective

49. Panchaetothrips indicus Thripidae; Thysanoptera
Symptoms of Damage
• Leaves become rolled up
• Turn pale and gradually dry-up
• Infestation is more common during
post monsoon period especially in
drier regions of the country.
Identification of pest
• Adult is with fringed wings
Management: spraying with 0.05%
dimethoate or 0.1% phospamidon.

50. Holotrichia sp.
• In Dharmapuri district, white grubs which are
infesting sugarcane are found to be feeding on the
rhizomes of the turmeric.
• Damage: root grubs feed on tender rhizomes, root
and base of pseudostems causing yellowing and
wilting of shoots.

51. • The initial symptoms are yellowing of leaves and
wilting. The infected plants can be removed from
soil easily.
• Activity :The adult whitegrubs become active
with the onset of summer showers (May – June).
They come out of the soil during the night.
• Alternate hosts - Acacia, Ailanthus etc and mate.
The female lays the eggs in the moist soil.

52. MANAGEMENT
• Provide adequate irrigation, since under inadequate soil
moisture conditions the pest appears in the root zone.
• Collect and destroy adult beetles when they are found
feeding on the trees.
• Install light traps to collect the adults (or) burn fire. Adopt
crop rotation in the endemic areas
• Apply Carbofuran3G 10kg/ha near the root zone and give one
more round 30 days later.
• Utilisation of fungal pathogens like Metarhizium anisopliae,
Beauveria brongniartii is now under consideration
• Seed treatment with chlorpyriphos 6 - 10 ml/kg seed is
effective against root grubs.
• Application of phorate 10 G 15 kg/ha at sowing time.

53. 1. Leaf thrips:
Anaphothrips rudanensis (Thripidae: Thysanoptera)
Asprothrips indicus (Thripidae: Thysanoptera)
Panchaetothrips indicus (Thripidae: Thysanoptera)
2. Chrysmellid beetle,
• Lema pracusta (Chrysomelidae : Coleoptera
3. Banana lacewing bug, Stephanitis typica (Tingidae:
Hemptera)
4. Mites

54. • Ecourses –ebschort.com
• Insect, mite & vertebrate pests & their management in
Horticultural crops – P . Parvatha Reddy.
• Study material - ACHARYA N G RANGA AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITY
• Turmeric (text book) – V. A. Parthasarathy spices board of
India, cochin.
• GUIDE TO GOOD CROP PROTECTION PRACTICES - Programme
PIP COLEACP – Belgium (www.coleacp.org/pip)
• TNAU
• News paper -