INSECT
PESTS OF COTTON
AND
THEIR MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
(
I P M )
IPM
utilizes all suitable techniques and methods in a compatible manner
to maintain pest population at levels below those causing economically
unacceptable damage
Major
Insect Pests of Cotton Crop in Punjab
Common
Name |
Technical
Name |
Diagram
|
Pest
Management |
|
(A) Sucking Pests
|
Thrips
|
Thrips
tabaci
|
 |
 |
Jassid
|
Amrasca
devastans |
|
 |
White
fly
|
Bemisia
tabaci
|
|
 |
Aphid
|
Aphis
gossypii
|
 |
 |
Mite
|
Tetranychus
tellarius
|
 |
 |
| (B)
Bollworms |
| Spotted
Bollworm |
Earias
insulana
Earias vitella
|
 |
 |
| Pink
Bollworm |
Pectinophora
gossypiella |
 |
 |
American
Bollworm
|
Helicoverpa
armigera
|
 |
 |
| (C)
Armyworms |
| Armyworm |
Spodoptera
sp.
|
 |
 |
Economic
Threshold Levels (ETLs) of Cotton Insect Pests
Insects |
ETLs |
| Jassids |
One
adult/ nymph per leaf
|
| White
Fly |
Five
adults / nymph per leaf |
| Thrips |
8-10
adult / nymph per leaf
|
| Cotton
Aphid |
Clear
symptoms of damage on the top shoots |
| Cotton
Mite |
Clear
symptoms of attack
|
| Pink
Bollworm |
August
10% damage/attack
September 5% damage/attack
|
| Spotted
Bollworm |
3
larvae per 25 plants
|
| American
Bollworm |
5
brown eggs or young larvae per 25 plants
Or
5 brown eggs and young larvae collectively per 25 plants |
| Armyworm |
Clear
symptoms of attack
|
Parasites/Predators
in Cotton Crop
Name |
Diagram |
Name |
Diagram |
Coccinellids
(Lady bird beetle)
|
 |
Anthocorid bug
(Pirate bug)
|
 |
Spiders
|
 |
Geocoris bug
(Big eyed bug)
|
 |
Chrysoperla
(Green lacewing)
|
 |
Syrphid fly
(Hover flies) |
 |
Reduvid bug
(Assassin bug)
|
 |
Trichogramma
|
 |
Points
of Consideration (IPM)
BEFORE
SOWING
Early sowing may be strictly avoided
Treated seed may be used
Avoid cotton sowing in orchards/vegetables
DURING
SOWING
Clean cultivation
Only recommended verities may be sown
Spray only recommended pesticides
Pyrethroids and their combinations may not be sprayed in early
crop season
Pest scouting may be done twice a week for timely
spray
Repetition of same insecticide may be avoided
Pheromone traps may be installed for pest monitoring
and timely control operations
Spray may be done at ETL
Irrigation may be stopped after 30th September
Fertilizers application may be avoided after 15th August
Spray during morning and evening
Pheromone traps may be installed on remaining heaps of cotton sticks
when crop is in the field
AFTER
HARVEST
Grazing by goats/sheep after last picking to destroy
hibernating Pink Bollworm larvae
Ploughing may be done after cutting sticks to destroy hibernating
larvae of American Bollworm
Destroy cotton sticks before 15th March
| 
