It is otherwise known as cluster caterpillar, common cutworm, cotton leaf worm, tobacco cutworm, tobacco caterpillar, and tropical armyworm. It is one of the most serious polyphagous pest of field and vegetable crops throughout the world and in Indian subcontinent.
Life cycle :
Moth has grey to reddish-brown forewings with a complex pattern of creamy streaks and paler lines along the veins. The hind wings are grayish white with grey margins. Larvae are variable in colour starting pale green and turliturang dark green to brown. Larvae have bright yellow stripes along the back and sides.
The female lays eggs in masses and covers them with hair scales from her body. The egg masses are 4-7 mm in diameter and cream to golden brown. Eggs usually hatch between three to four days. Young larvae or caterpillars are a translucent green with a dark thorax. They are smooth-skinned with a pattern of red, yellow, and green lines, and with a dark patch on the back of the head. As growth continues, caterpillars eat entire leaves, and even flowers and fruits. The Caterpillar burrows into the soil several centimeters and there pupates without a cocoon. The pupal stage lasts either a few weeks or several months, depending upon time of year. The average life cycle will be completed in about 25 days.
Damage :
The species parasitize the plants through the larvae vigorous eating patterns, often times leaving the leaves completely destroyed. The moth’s effects are quite disastrous, destroying economically important agricultural crops and decreasing yield in some plants completely.
ETL for Spodoptera litura is 35-50 No’s of moths per trap per day.
Use 8-10 No’s Pheromone Traps per acre from one week crop stage to control pest at early stage.
Trap canopy should be placed one feet above crop canopy to achieve optimum catch.
Recommended trap model: Phero-Sensor-SP™ or Phero-Sensor – BP™
Recommended for: Cotton, Chillies, Tomato, Beans, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Black gram, Green gram, Pea, Tobacco, Groundnut, Caster, Sunflower, Sorghum, Soybean and all leafy vegetables.
