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The losses due to insect pests are much higher in the case of pulses
than these in the cereal grains.
It is not reasonable to expect that millions of small and marginal
farmers will buy their own dusters and sprayers and other equipment
for the application of pesticides in their small fields. These operations
have to be organised on a community basis with the help of specially
created service agencies for this purpose, it is also worth mentioning
here about the damage occured during storage. Small storage devices
for villages can save the damage to pulses from insect pests.
Beetles
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| Beetles |
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About 15 per cent damage to gram grain is estimated to be
caused by the beetles, Bruchus chinensis and Bruchus theobroma,
which while feeding scoop out the contents of grains. |
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The female beetle lays eggs on the grain and on emergence
the larva feeds on the testa, subsequently boring into the pulse
and pupating within the damaged portion of the grain. |
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The adult emerges out of the pupa and begins to feed on the
grain. |
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The size of the adult beetle depends upon the size of the
infested portion of the pulse. |
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The pulse beetles assume serious proportions usually during
July-August in the stores. |
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Periodical exposure of the grains to sun helps to check infestations. |
Cut Worm
This is caused by Agrotis ipsilon (Rott.) Besides A. ipsilon, other
species known to damage gram are A.flammatra schiff, A.biconica
Koll, A.segetum, and A. spinifera H.
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| Agrotis ipsilon (Adult) |
Cutworm larva |
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The larvae cut the plants at the base, below or just above
the soil surface or may even cut branches. |
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A characteristic feature of the damage is that the caterpillars
drag the cut parts into soil for feeding. |
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The buried stem or branches is almost the sure index of the
place where the caterpillar is hiding. |
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Cutworms can be controlled by dusting aldrin (5%) at 20 to
25 kg/ha. |
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Adult insects can be controlled by light traps. |
Pod Borer
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| Male (left) and Female (right) moths of Helicoverpa
armigera |
H. armigera eggs on chickpea leaves |
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| H. armigera feeding on leaves |
H. armigera feeding on pods |
This is caused by Heliothis armigera Hb (or Heliothis absoleta).
The pod borer is a serious pest of gram. It also attacks arhar (Cajanus
cajan) and other crops.
Control measures
| Cultural methods: |
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Recommended doses of fertilisers should be applied. |
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Sow 3-4 lines of maize (or) Jowar around the cotton crop to
monitor the moth. |
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Sow trap crops like marigold at 50 plants/acre along with
cotton. |
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Inter crops like, Green gram, Black gram, Groundnut, Soybean
should be sown. |
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Clipping of terminal shoots on 100 days of crop growth. |
| Physical methods: |
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Collection and destruction of eggs on trap crop as well as
main crop. |
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Collection and destruction of larvae on trap crop as well
as main crop. |
| Mechanical Methods: |
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Use of pheromone traps (4 traps/acre) for pest intensity identification
as well as to trap the male moths. |
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Arrange 10-bird perches/acre. |
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Setting of light traps (1 light trap/5 acre) to know the range
of pest incidence as well as to kill moth population. |
| Biological methods: |
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Trichograma pretiosum attacks on eggs of Heliothis. |
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Release Trichogramma parasites at the rate of 20,000/acre. |
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Eucelatoria byrani; Carcelia illota attacks on larvae of Heliothis.
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Bacillus thuringenisis (soil bacteria) |
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NPV (virus) |
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Beauveria bassiana (fungi) |
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Nomuraea rileyi (fungi) |
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NPV: NPV 200 LE + ½ kg Jaggery + 200ml Sandovit (or)
Teepal; mixing and spray in the evening hours only. Note: NPV
is more effective in cloudy weather. |
Termites
This is caused by Odontotermes obesus Ramb or Microtermes abesi
Heomgr. Termites are subterranean pests which are more common to
the relatively dry tracts especially in sandy and sandy loam soils
of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
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These appear soon after sowing and damage both seed and seedlings.
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The attack may continue to the standing crop also especially
during the period of drought. |
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The attacked plants in younger stage wither away and die,
whereas the grown up plants die slowly. |
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Such plants, if uprooted, will show the presence of termites
and their galleries on damaged plants. |
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The completely damaged plants are pulled easily. |
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