Ehtisham Ali Hussain University College Of Agriculture, University Of Sargodha, Sargodha For more Topics Contact.., shamu.hassan.eh@gmail.com

1. INSECT PEST OF GRAM POD CATERPILLAR
Ehtisham Ali Hussain
BAGF15E258
University College Of Agriculture,
University Of Sargodha, Sargodha

2. IDENTIFICATION
T.N Helicoverpa armigera
F . Noctuidae
O. lepidoptera
Eggs
 Fertile eggs hatch in about three days during warm weather (25°C
average) and 6-10 days in cooler conditions, changing from white to
brown to a black-head stage before producing a hatchling. Not all eggs
are fertile. Physical factors can dramatically affect egg survival and
larval establishment. Heavy rainfall and wind can force eggs off leaves.
High temperatures can dehydrate and kill eggs and very small larvae.
 Larvae
 The hatching larva (neonate) eats through the eggshell to make an exit
hole. Neonate larvae are 1-1.5 mm long, with a brown-black head and
white or yellowish-white, dark-spotted body.

3.  Pupae
 Fully grown larvae crawl to the base of the plant, tunnel up to 10 cm into the soil and form
a chamber in which they pupate. Pupal duration is determined by temperature, taking
around two weeks in summer and up to six weeks in spring and autumn. However,
diapausing (overwintering) pupae take much longer to emerge
 Adult (moth)
 Adult moth wingspan is 30-45 mm. The forewings are brownish or reddish-brown (females)
or dull greenish to yellow or light brown (males). Hindwings are pale with a broad, dark
outer margin. H. armigera moths have a pale patch near the centre of this dark region.

4. LIFE CYCLE
 THE females lay about 500- 750 eggs on tender parts of the plants. The
eggs hatch on one week . Larvae come out and move from pod to pod
and are full fed in 3 weeks . The grown Larvae come out from the pod
and pupate in soil for 2 weeks which prolongs in winter . There may be 8
generations in a year

5. DAMAGE
 Larvae feed on the foliage when young and on the seed in
later stages . A single larva may destroy 30-40 pods before
it reaches maturity
 Symptoms of damage
 Defoliation in early stages
 Larva’s head alone thrust inside the pods and the rest of the
body hanging out.
 Pods with round holes

6. CONTROL
Cultural control
 The pest can be suppressed by hand picking the
caterpillars in early stages of the attack
Chemical control
 Spray profenofos EC 800ml/acre
 lambda Cyhalothrin EC 250 ml/acre

7. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
 The ichneumonid, Campoletis chlorideae (Uchida), is probably the most important
larval parasitoid on H. armigera in chickpea in India.
 Carcelia illota (Curran), Goniophthalmus halli Mesnil and Palexorista laxa (Curran)
have also been reported to parasitize up to 54 per cent larvae on chickpea .
 Although Pawar et al. reported 31.4 per cent parasitism of H. armigera larvae by C.
chlorideae (Uchida), an ichneumonid, in chickpea at ICRISAT, India.
 In Bihar state of India, 14.3 to 58.0 per cent parasitism of H. armigera larvae by C.
chlorideae was observed in chickpea fields .
 In Maharashtra state of India, 14.7 per cent parasitism by C. chlorideae on H.
armigera larvae was observed in a chickpea field .