Shoot, Panicle and Capsule borer

Catalogue Type
Plant Pests Catalogue
Scientific Name
Dichocrocis punctiferalis
Family
Pyralidae
Distinguishing Characters
Long, pale greenish with a pinkish colour dorsally
Medium sized moth (22-24 mm); the wings are pale yellowish with black spots on the wings.
Eggs are pink, oval, flat and laid singly or in groups on the tender part of the plant.
Larva: Long, pale greenish with a pinkish colour dorsally, head and pro-thoracic shield brown in colour and body covered with minute hairs.
Pupa: Pupation takes place in lose silken cocoon in larval tunnel.
Host Crop
Castor, turmeric, guava, mulberry, cardamom etc
Order
Lepidoptera
Photo of Insect
Photo of Damaged Crop
Description

The larva bores into the central core of the pseudostems resulting in the death of the central spindle causing “dead heart” symptom.

Larva feeds on seeds rendering them empty and prominent holes.

Early stage of the larva bores the unopened leaf buds and feeds on the leaf tissue.

They also bore the panicles leading to drying up of the portion from the affected spot

Feed on immature capsules and the young seeds inside rendering the capsules empty.

Late stage larvae bore the pseudostem and feed on the central core of the stem resulting in drying of the terminal leaf and thus produce characteristic ‘dead heart’ symptom.

Oozing out of frass material at the point of tunnelling is the indication for the presence of larva inside the plant parts.

The incidence of this pest is noticed throughout the year but they occur in enormous number in four periods, December-January, March-April, May-June and September-October and their abundance synchronizes with the panicle production, fruit formation and new tiller production.