Brinjal is a versatile crop because it can grow in different climatic conditions. It is one of the reasons the crop can be grown throughout the year. In India, brinjal accounts for almost 9% of total vegetable production. Also called eggplant, it is a part of various cuisines across India. And there are different varieties of brinjal, but like any other crop, it is also at the risk of pests and insects. A brinjal fruit and shoot borer is a pest which typically affects brinjal production. Scientifically named Leucinodes Orbonalis, this moth species feasts only on brinjal and all its kinds worldwide. The easiest way to control these pests is using crop insecticides. A shoot borer insecticide can keep away these moths and help the steady growth of your crops.
India happens to be at the 2nd position in the world in terms of eggplant production, after China. The country produces 12,600,000 tonnes of brinjal a year, accounting for nearly 22.97% of total world cultivation. So it is extremely important to keep the crop fields free of insects and pests.
What is a Shoot Borer?
A shoot borer is a monophagous pest that affects only brinjal plants all over the world. Its common name is Brinjal fruit and shoot borer. These pests make holes in the tender shoots at the initial stage and also within the fruit at a later stage of vegetation. If a brinjal plant is affected by this infestation, it results in the shedding of leaves and flower buds, thus significantly affecting the overall production.
The shoot borer is active throughout the year, similar to the thriving brinjal crops. A female moth can lay about 250 eggs on the tender shoots or fruits of brinjal. At the caterpillar stage, it can alone destroy 4-6 fruits. By creating the entry holes in the brinjal fruit, they also make way for other pests to feed on them. These brinjals can no longer be sold for consumption. The Shoot and fruit borer is thus one of the most destructive pests on brinjal crops.
How to Detect Shoot Borer on Brinjals?
The first stage of prevention of brinjal from these dangerous pests is identifying the infestation has started taking place. Some common symptoms that indicate a common pest infestation include withering and drying of leaves and shedding flowers. But for a shoot and fruit borer, observe holes on the shoots and fruits plugged with excreta. At times, the fruits also appear shapeless.
To identify a shoot borer, here’s what to look for:
– Creamy white eggs
– Pink-coloured larva
– The cocoon of the caterpillar is grey in colour
– During the adult stage, these medium-sized moths have black and brown patches and white dots. The hind wings are opalescent with black dots.
Management of Shoot Borer on Brinjal
– Brinjal fruit and shoot borers have to be dealt with as early as possible. The use of crop insecticides can significantly help to reduce the cases of shoot borer infestation along with other common pests like white flies on the crop.
– Since the insect only feeds on brinjals, crop rotation is beneficial. Intercropping brinjal within other crops such as maize, coriander, etc also helps. Intercropping brinjal between banana plantations has also provided great results to farmers.
– Have different varieties of brinjals growing together. Jhumka, Nayantara, Uttara are more tolerant varieties of brinjal.
– To prevent further infestation, remove the affected fruits and the tender shoots to destroy them.
– Insects and moths can also be kept away by using light traps.
Solutions from Dhanuka Agritech
Dhanuka Agritech offers a wide range of products like crop insecticides and fungicides that you can use to prevent infestation on your crops. Some of the insecticides that can work on brinjal are Areva, Fax SC, Media and Superkiller-25. Their EM-1 is a granular shoot borer insecticide that controls caterpillars by its contact and stomach poison action, it is effective for brinjal. They have several other shoot borer insecticides as well. They have detailed guide on the usage and dosage of their products. Visit the website to check out all their other products here.
Read More blogs on www.nativesnewsonline.com
