• Nymphs are light yellowish green or greenish black or brownish.
• Adults are mostly wingless but few winged forms also seen. Winged and wingless forms breed parthenogenetically and hence population build up is quite fast.
• It has 12-14 generations per year.

• Leaves appear shiny and sticky due to honeydew excreted by the insects.
• Later sooty mold grow on honey dew and leaves have a black coating.

• Cool and humid conditions are favourable for multiplication while heavy rains wash away the aphid colonies.
• Economic threshold limit is 15-20% affected plants.

• Seed treatment with Imidacloprid (5g/kg seed) keeps the crop free of sucking pests over a month.
• For the control of all sucking pests Paint on stem with a mixture of Monocrotophos: water (1:4) or Imidacloprad: water (1:20) at 20, 40 and 60 days age of crop.
• Treat the seeds with Imidacloprid 70WS (5gm/kg of seed) or Thiamethoxam 70WS (4gm/kg of seed) or Carbosulfan 25SP (50gm/kg of seed) along with little wetting agent. It protects the crop upto 40 to 50 days against sucking pests and to avoid or reduce the early season insecticide application.
• If seeds are untreated, apply carbofuran @12-14kg per acre or Phorate @4-5kg per acre nearer to the base of seedling when soil is moist.
• Release predator chrysoperla carnea @2000per acre for 2 times at fortnightly interval.
• Scouting should be done at least twice a week (more frequently during higher pest infestation) for aphids on the under side of the leaf during early morning hours. If 10 aphids/plant (and) or 10-20% of affected plants (and) or appearance of honeydew on 50% plants are observed initiate spraying any of the following pesticides with optimum quantity of water. One chemical at a time to be sprayed. Same chemical should not be opened. Spray at 10days interval till the pest is controlled.

• Treat the seeds with Imidacloprid 70WS (5gm/kg of seed) or Thiamethoxam 70WS (4gm/kg of seed) or Carbosulfan 25SP (50gm/kg of seed) along with little wetting agent. It protects the crop upto 40 to 50 days against sucking pests and to avoid or reduce the early season insecticide application.
• If seeds are untreated, apply carbofuran @12-14kg per acre or Phorate @4-5kg per acre nearer to the base of seedling when soil is moist.
• Release predator chrysoperla carnea @2000per acre for 2 times at fortnightly interval.
• Scouting should be done at least twice a week (more frequently during higher pest infestation) for aphids on the under side of the leaf during early morning hours. If 10 aphids/plant (and) or 10-20% of affected plants (and) or appearance of honeydew on 50% plants are observed initiate spraying any of the following pesticides with optimum quantity of water. One chemical at a time to be sprayed. Same chemical should not be opened. Spray at 10days interval till the pest is controlled.

Seasonal occurrence Polyphagous and very widely distributed Starting from seedling stage occurs at all stages of crop growth.

• Both nymphs and adults lacerate and feed the sap from under surface of leaves and imbibe the oozing sap. Leaves loose the natural lustre the upper side of leaf turn brown and lower side becomes silvery white.
• Each female lay 60-70 eggs single into the green plant tissue 4-6 per day. Eggs hatch in 5 days. The nymphal period last for 5 days, pupal period for 4-5 days. Several generations found in a year.
• Economic threshold: 10 thrips/leaf.

Both nymphal and adults lacerate leaf surface and feed on plant sap. It causes leaf curl. Upper side of the older leaves turns brown and the lower side becomes silvery white.

• High temperature with low rainfall favours multiplication.
• Insecticides effective against aphids and Jassids are also effective against thrips.

• Onion, Garlic, Tobacco etc.,

• Treat the seeds with Imidacloprid 70WS (5gm/kg of seed) or Thiamethoxam 70WS (4gm/kg of seed) or Carbosulfan 25SP (50gm/kg of seed) along with little wetting agent. It protects the crop upto 40 to 50 days against sucking pests and to avoid or reduce the early season insecticide application.
• If seeds are untreated, apply carbofuran @12-14kg per acre or Phorate @4-5kg per acre nearer to the base of seedling when soil is moist.
• Release predator chrysoperla carnea @2000per acre for 2 times at fortnightly interval.
• Scouting should be done at least twice a week (more frequently during higher pest infestation) for aphids on the under side of the leaf during early morning hours. If 10 aphids/plant (and) or 10-20% of affected plants (and) or appearance of honeydew on 50% plants are observed initiate spraying any of the following pesticides with optimum quantity of water. One chemical at a time to be sprayed. Same chemical should not be opened. Spray at 10days interval till the pest is controlled.

• Growing of BT Cotton
• Erect Light trap @1per 5 acre or pheromone traps @2per acre at a height of 0.3meter from crop canopy. Monitor the emergence of moth and catching 8-10 moths/night/trap for 4 consecutive nights gives a prediction of egg laying in the next 5-8 days to synchronize insecticide application against vulnerable stage of early instar larvae.
• Release of egg parasite Trichogramma chilonis @60,000 per acre or chrisopa larvae @10,000 per acre for 3-4 times.
• Plant Trap crops (Marigold or Okra or Pigeon pea) @100plants at random to divert oviposition from main crop.
• Remove terminal of cotton crop (topping) at 80-90 days of growth to reduce Helicoverpa oviposition.
• Erect bird perches (T-shaped Bamboo pegs) @15-20 per acre at random to encourage predation by insectivorous Birds.
• Spray NPV @100LE/acre with 1/2 kg jaggery and 200ml of wetting agent during evening hours against early instars of larvae for maximum effectiveness.
• Adopt Hand picking of eggs and grown up larvae to eliminate the possible development of resistance. It also helps to minimise heave build up of future pest population.
• Scouting should be done at least twice a week (more frequently during higher pest infestation) for Heliothis on a whole plant during early morning hours. If when 2eggs for plant (and) or 5 larvae/10 plants (and) or 10% of fruiting bodies infestation are observed initiate spraying any of the following insecticide with optimum quantity of water.
• One chemical at a time to be sprayed. Same chemical should not be repeated. Spray at 10 days interval till the pest is controlled.

Seasonal occurrence Commonly seen at boll formation stage.  Life cycle The moths lay 200-400 eggs single on flower buds, branches and young leaves. Hairy part of plant is preferred for egg laying. The egg period ranges from 3-4 days. The larval stage is completed in about 10-16 days.

• The pupation occurs either on plants or in the fallen leaves. Pupal period lasts for 4-9days.
• Adult stageremains for 8-22 days. Several overlapping generations are found in a year.
• Caterpillars are brownish white with a number of brown and milky white markings.

Larva bores into terminal shoots of young plants leading death of the shoots and subsequent development of side shoots and branches. Larva also bores into the flower buds flowers, locules and bolls. Infected parts will shed. Entrance hole is plugged with excreta.

• Squares draw flaring up symptoms and drop.
• Economic threshold limit is 5-10% incidence level.

• Cotton, Okra, Hollyhock and other Malvaceous plants.

Control

• Erect Light trap @1per 5 acre or pheromone traps @2per acre at a height of 0.3meter from crop canopy. Monitor the emergence of moth and catching 1 moth/night/trap for 3 consecutive nights gives a prediction of egg laying in the next 3-5days to synchronize insecticide against vulnerable stage of early instar larvae.
• Release of egg parasite Trichogramma chilonis @60,000 per acre or chrisopa larvae @10,000 per acre for 3-4 times.
• Plant Trap crops (Marigold or Okra or Pigeon pea) @100plants at random to divert oviposition from main crop.
• Erect bird perches (T-shaped Bamboo pegs) @15-20 per acre at random to encourage predation by insectivorous Birds.
• Adopt Hand picking of eggs and grown up larvae to eliminate the possible development of resistance. It also helps to minimise heavy build up of future pest population.
• Scouting should be done at least twice a week (more frequently during higher pest infestation) for Spotted bollworm on a whole plant during early morning hours. If when 5 larvae/10 ploants (and) or 10% of fruiting bodies infestation are observed initiate spraying any of the following insecticide with optimum quantity of water.
• One chemical at a time to be sprayed. Same chemical should not be repeated. Spray at 10 days interval till the pest is controlled.

• Moth lays eggs on the underside of leaves in masses (100-300) and covered with brown hair. Each female lays 1000-2000 eggs. Eggs hatch in 3-5 days. Larval stage completed in 28 days. Pupation takes place in the soil and pupal period lasts for about 9 days. Longivity of adults is 9-10 days. Has 6-8 generations/year.

• Erect Light trap @1per 5 acre or pheromone traps @2per acre at a height of 0.3meter from crop canopy. Monitor the emergence of moth and catching 1 moth/night/trap for 3 consecutive nights gives a prediction of egg laying in the next 3-5days to synchronize insecticide against vulnerable stage of early instar larvae.
• Release of egg parasite Trichogramma chilonis @60,000 per acre or chrisopa larvae @10,000 per acre for 3-4 times.
• Plant Trap crops (Marigold or Okra or Pigeon pea) @100plants at random to divert oviposition from main crop.
• Erect bird perches (T-shaped Bamboo pegs) @15-20 per acre at random to encourage predation by insectivorous Birds.
• Broadcast pelleted form of Chloripyriphos 500ml/acre to Thiodicarb 250gm/acre with 2kg jaggery and 10kg of Paddy husk during evening hours for maximum effectiveness.
• Adopt Hand picking of eggs and grown up larvae to eliminate the possible development of resistance. It also helps to minimise heavy build up of future pest population.
• Scouting should be done at least twice a week (more frequently during higher pest infestation) for Spodoptera on a whole plant during early morning hours. If when 5 larvae/10 plants (and) or 10% of fruiting bodies infestation are observed initiate spraying any of the following insecticide with optimum quantity of water.
• One chemical at a time to be sprayed. Same chemical should not be repeated. Spray at 10 days interval till the pest is controlled.

Seasonal Occurrence The insect is active throughout the year and passes winter in adult stage.

• Female lays on an average 100 -130 eggs in moist soil or in crevices in the ground.
• They hatch in 7-8 days.
• There are 5 nymphal stages and development is completed in 49-89 days.
• In winter the adult insect lives upto three months.
• Both nymphs and adults puncture the tender and ripening bolls, suck the sap and causes staining of the lint.
• The attacked bolls exhibit white to yellow spots and lint turns yellow.

• Bhendi, Maize Pearlmillet, Wheat, Hollyhock, Clovers and also found in Cucurbits.

• Control measures taken for major pests on cotton will take care of this pest.
• If the infection is severe

1. Spray dimethoate 2ml/lit of water or
2. Oxydemeton methyl 2 ml/lit of water - spray 2 times at 10 days interval.