Cotton Cut Worm

It is a Polyphagous pest  and also attacks chickpea apart from cotton.

Appearance:

Cream colored eggs; the young larva is dark brown with red head. The grown up larvae is 45 mm long and grey-black Pupation takes place in earthen cocoon. Moths have brown forewings with numerous wavy lines and spots and pearly hind wings with a brown margin.

              larva                                         SN: Agrotis ipsilon
                                                                          Noctuidae: Lepidoptera
                                                                 Kannada name: Kattarisuva keede

Life cycle:

Eggs laid singly on the plants earth clods, stem bases and on both sides of leaves. Pupation takes place in earthen cocoon.

Nature of damage:

• The caterpillar hides during the day and come out in the evening for damage.

• They remain the soil at a depth of 2-4 inches.

• The larvae cut the tender plants at the base, and branches or stems of growing plants.

• The larvae drag the cut parts into soil for feeding.

Damage Symptoms:

• Seedlings are cut through at or below ground level.

• A search around such seedlings will reveal the larvae.