Insect | Scientific name | Symptoms of damage | Management |
Ash weevlis | Mylloecerus undecimpustulatus | · Nicked leaf margins · Patched leaf wilting · Weak roots grip · Destroyed roots | Cultural: · Eradication and destruction of affected plant parts Chemical: · Insecticidal spray (Quinalphos or chlorpyriphos) |
Cotton aphid | Aphis gossypii | · Leaf crunkles · Stunted plant growth · Leaf blight · Dark plant appearance due to black mould · Tender leaves & shoots | Chemical: · Insecticidal sprays (Methyl demeton, Acetamiprid, Carbosulfan, Fipronil, Imidacloprid or Malathion) |
Cotton stem weevil | Pempheres affinis | · Stem swelling · Young plant death · Nodal breakage during wind · Lack of vigor & strength in mature plant | Cultural: · FYM application · 10% - 20% Infestation Chemical: · Seed treatment (Chlorpyriphos) · Insecticidal spray (Carbaryl or carbofuran) |
Dusky cotton bug | Oxycarenuchyalinipennis | · Sap sucking · Lint blackening · Shrunken seeds · Seeds discoloration | Chemical: · Insecticidal Phosphamidon spray |
Fruit borer | Helicoverpa armigera | · Boll feeding · Regular circular bore holes · 30 - 40 bolls damaged by a single larva · Granular faecal pellets outside bore holes | Cultural: · Synchronized sowing with short duration varieties · Avoid continuous cropping · Avoid monocropping · Destruction & removal of crop residues · Water management for larval harborage · Avoid moth multiplication with optimized use of nitrogenous fertilizers Biological: · Nuclear Polyhedrosis virus · Bacillus thuringiensis · Beauveriabassina · Natural predators & parasitoids · Egg parasitoid, Trichogramma spp. Chemical: · At early stage of square formation (Acephate, carbaryl, Diflubenzuron, Lufenuron or Pyridalyl) · During boll formation and maturity (Quinalphos, Carbaryl or Pyraclofos) |
Leaf hopper | Amrasca devastans | · Leaf yellowing · Leaf curling · Bronze colored leaf hopper burn · Crumbled leaf margins · Leaf shedding · Complete crop destruction | Chemical: · Insecticidal spray (Carbofuran, Imidacloprid, Buprofezin, Fipronil, Phosalone or Thiacloprid) · Neem oil treatment |
Leaf roller | Sylepta derogate | · Leaf rolling · Biten marginal leaf portions · Crop defoliation | Cultural: · Picking & destroying of broken & shedded leaves · Manual picking & destruction of young caterpillers Chemical: · Insecticidal sprays (Chlorpyriphos or dichlorovos) |
Meally bug | Phenacoccus species | · A mat of mealy bugs under leaf surface · Thick wax emission · Honeydew secretion · Development of black mould · Black plant appearance · Diminished fruiting | Cultural: · Weeds eradication · Parasitoids Chemical: · Spray with Profenophos · Treatment with neem oil |