PESTS OF POMEGRANATE Anar butterfly, Castor semilooper, Aphid, Whitefly, Mealybug, Thrips, Eriophyid mite || KHETI KA HISAB

 

1. Anar butterfly / Fruit borer: Virachola (Duodorix) isocrates, Rapala varuna (Lycaenidae: Lepidoptera)   Distribution and status: throughout India. Host range: Citrus, guava, litchi, loquat, peach, mulberry, pear, sapota, tamarind, apple, apple ber, and litchi.
Damage symptoms Round bore holes on the fruit are caused by larvae penetrating the developing fruits and feeding on the pulp and seeds prior to the rind. Bacteria and fungus that attack infected fruits eventually fall off and leave an unpleasant odour.

Bionomics

Shiny, white, oval eggs deposited singly on sensitive fruits and flower calyx. Larval period: 18–47 days; egg period: 7–10 days. Dark brown caterpillar with short hairs and white spots all over the body. Larvae attach themselves to fruit stalks and pupate inside the fruit, occasionally even outside, for a period of 7 to 34 days. Females have brownish violet forewings with an orange patch, whereas males are glossy and bluish violet. In one year, four generations were finished.

2. Castor semilooper: Achaea janata (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera)

 

While the adult moth uses its proboscis to eat the fruits after piercing them with its semilooper, the fruits are damaged.

3.Aphid: Aphis punicae (Aphididae: Hemiptera)

 

Damage symptoms

Infestation of the leaves by nymphs and adults results in leaf bending, yellowing, and withering as well as early fruit drop. 

Bionomics

The colour of the aphids is a greenish brown. Both the wingless and winged forms are viviparous and parthenogenetic in their reproduction.

 

Management

Ø Cut off and burn any infected branches.

Ø Spray 500-1000 L of water per ha with dimethoate 30 EC, monocrotophos 36 SL ml, methyl demeton 25 EC at 750 ml, or imidachloprid 200 SL 125 ml.

Ø Put 33 kg of carbofuran 3 G on each hectare.

Ø Release Chrysoperla carnea four times, with a ten-day interval between releases, beginning with the beginnings of flowering.

MINOR PESTS

 

4. Whitefly: Siphonimus phillyreae (Aleyrodidae: Hemiptera)

 

It causes yellowing by infesting the lower surface of the leaves. 

 

5. Mealybug:  Ferrisia virgata;  Pseudococcus lilacinus (Pseudococcidae:  Hemiptera)

 

Young twigs, leaves, and buds are sucked dry by nymphs, pale green adults with wings, and adults without wings. It causes early fruit drop, wilting of terminal shoots, blighted look of flower buds, and yellowing of leaves. Management and bionomics: mention coffee. 

6. Thrips: Retithrips syriacus, Rhipiphorothrips cruentatus  (Thripidae: Thysanoptera)

 

Both nymphs and adults lacerate the edges of fragile leaves and eat the sap that leaks from the lacerated material. Silvery white spots and afflicted leaves' browning and wilting

7. Hairy caterpillar: Euproctis fraterna,

Scintillating Porthea (Lymantridae: Lepidoptera)

 

8. Eriophyid mite: Aceria granati (Eriophyidae: Acari)

 

By rolling the edges of the leaves, both nymphs and adults cause harm and stay within. Linear and misshapen leaves result from infestation.

9. Red spider mite: Tetranychus punicae (Tetranychidae: Acari)

 

The feeding behaviour of nymphs and adults on the upper leaf surfaces causes bronzing of the leaves.

10. Bagworm: Clania crameri (Psychidae: Lepidoptera)

 

Damage symptoms

The caterpillar creates circular holes on the leaf surface by scraping the leaf tissues. Defoliation is severely impacted. 

Bionomics

The male moth has wings, whereas the female is apterous and looks like a maggot. The pupal case is where the eggs are laid. The larva builds its casing and continues to eat leaves inside of it. In around five weeks, it reaches its full size.