R.Varshini APAC Bionomics, distribution, host range, symptom of damage and management of guava fruit borers

2. Fruit borer complex
• Castor capsule borer:
 Congethes (Dichocrocis) punctiferalis
(Lepidoptera: Crambidae)
• Pomegranate butterfly:
 Deudorix (Virachola) isocrates
 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)
• Fruit borer:
 Rapala varuna
(Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)
)

3. Castor capsule borer: Conogethes
punctiferalis (Pyraustidae:
Lepidoptera)
• Distribution and status:
South India (Major)
• Host range: Cardamom,
castor, jack, guava

4. Bionomics
• Eggs :laid on top leaf axils, inflorescence, tender
part of plant and fruits, egg period 6-7 days.
• Larva: pale reddish brown with numerous
tubercles on body.
• Larval period 12-16 days.
• Pupation :inside the fruit in a silken cocoon,
pupal period 4-11 days.
• Adult:Medium sized bright orange-yellow color
has numerous f black dots on wings. Life cycle
completed in 25-33 days.

5. BIONOMICS

6. Damage symptoms
• Larva bores into the young fruits which dry up
and fall prematurely, bore holes plugged with
excreta

7. Management
• Cultural control:
 Detect early infestation by periodic monitoring.
 Keeping basin clean.
 Maintain adequate aeration by proper training and pruning
 Pomegranate should not be cultivated close to guava as this
is the most preferred host of this pest.
 Collect and destroy the infested fruits regularly.
• Mechanical control:
 Prune the affected parts of the plant and destroy. Use light
trap @ 1/acre and operate between 6 pm and 10 pm
• CHEMICAL CONTROL:
Spray malathion 50 EC at 3 L or endosulfan 3 L or dimethoate
30 EC 3 L in 1500 – 2000 L water per ha, two rounds, one at
flower formation and next at fruit set.

8. Anar butterfly / Fruit
borer: Virachola (Duodorix) isocrates
, Rapala varuna (Lycaenidae:
Lepidoptera)
• Distribution and status:
All over India.
• Host range: Aonla, apple,
ber, citrus, guava, litchi,
loquat, peach, mulberry,
pear, sapota, tamarind.

9. Bionomics
• EGG:Shiny, white, oval shaped
eggs laid singly on calyx of
flowers and on tender fruits.
• Egg period 7-10 days, larval
period 18-47 days.
• LARVA: dark brown, having
short hairs and white patches
all over the body.
• Larvae pupates inside fruit
but occasionally outside even,
attaching themselves to stalk
of fruits, pupal period 7-34
days.
• Four generations completed
in a year

10. • Male glossy, bluish violet, Female brownish
violet with an orange patch on forewings.

11. Damage symptoms
• Larvae bore inside the
developing fruits and feed
on pulp and seeds just
before the rind exhibiting
round bore holes on fruit.
• Infested fruits are also
attacked by bacteria and
fungi, which ultimately fall
off and give an offensive
smell.
• Fruit rotting and dropping.
Fruits damaged by D. Isocrates
Larvae inside the damaged fruits

12. MANAGEMENT
• Cultural control:
Cover fruits with paper bags.
Remove and destroy the affected fruits.
Pomegranate should not be cultivated close to guava as
this is the most preferred host of this pest Collect and
destroy the infested fruits regularly.
• Mechanical control:
 Remove weeds of compositae family .
Prune the affected parts of the plant and destroy them.
Detect early infestation by periodic monitoring Install light
trap @ 1/ acre to monitor and mechanical collection of
insects

13. • CHEMICAL CONTROL:
Spray malathion 50 EC at 3 L or endosulfan 3 L or
dimethoate 30 EC 3 L in 1500 – 2000 L water per ha, two
rounds, one at flower formation and next at fruit set.
• Natural enemies of fruit borers:
Parasitoids: Trichogramma chilonis, Tetrastichus spp.,
Telenomus spp., Chelonus blackburni, Carcelia spp.
Campoletis chlorideae, Bracon spp.
Predators: Chrysoperla, Rove beetles, Spiders,
Coccinellids, Robber fly, Dragonfly, Reduviid bug, Praying
mantis, Fire ants, Big eyed bugs, Pentatomid bug, Earwigs,
Ground beetles, common mynah and King crow

14. REFERENCE
• https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop-
production/integrated-pest-managment/ipm-
for-fruit-crops/ipm-strategies-for-guava
• http://eagri.org/eagri50/ENTO331/lecture19/
guava_004.html
• http://ecoursesonline.iasri.res.in/Courses/Cro
p%20Pests%20&%20Stored%20Grain%20Pests
%20&%20their%20Mgmt/ENTO%20331/Data
%20Files/lecture19/pomegranate_001.html