SPOTTED BOLLWORM

Earias insulana, Earias vitella (Noctuidae : Lepidoptera)

IDENTIFICATION

- Abdomen and hindwings uniform, silvery or creamy white in colour

- Earias insulana; fore wings green

- Earias vitella ; green band on fore wings

LIFE HISTORY
Egg: 4 – 6 days
Larva: 8 - 10 days
Pupa: 6 – 8 days
Adult: 8 – 20 days
Number of Generations: 6 – 8 per year
Active period: July – October

DAMAGE
- Top boring before flowering

- Larvae enter the boll and feed inside

- Shedding squares and young bolls and flaring of bracts

- Holes on bolls are visible, excreta present

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)

- Clean cultivation

- Cutting of sticks immediately after last pick