Pigeon pea Pod Borer

Description : Adult moths have with dull brown forewings. A single female can lay up to 2000 small eggs, usually singly. Eggs are laid on flower buds and young pods. Full-grown larvae are 30-40 mm long and may have various color and banding patterns. Pupation occurs in the soil or in plant debris.

 Damage symptoms: Destroys buds, flowers, and pods. If flowers and pods are not available, larvae feed on foliage. Single most constraint to pigeonpea production.

 Control : Natural enemies: Manipulating natural enemy populations, including vertebrate predators such as birds.  After podsetting take up manual shaking to dislodge the Helicoverpa larvae from the crop and destroy them. Plant protection operation should be initiated when one notices:  small larva or 3 eggs per plant in short-duration cultivars. Small larvae or 5 eggs per plant in medium-duration cultivars. Small larvae or 10 eggs per plant in long-duration cultivars.Installation of 2-3 phermone traps in the village to monitor adult population. Application of neem seed powder extract @ 10 kg/acre in 200 litres of water. Application of NPV @ 200 litre/acre. Installation of bird perches (4-6 per acre) Spraying indoxacarb 0.5ml/litre or spinosad @ 1.0ml/5litre of water.