2. INTRODUCTION
Cotton occupies 5% of the total cropped area in India.
Consumes 55% pesticide for 40% of total production
costs.
Nearly 130 species of insect pests occur with a 12-15 of
these pests requiring their management .
Cotton pests grouped into five categories:
A. Sucking pests
Jassids
Aphids
Thrips
Whitefly
3. B. Bollworms
Pink Bollworms
Spotted Bollworms
American Bollworms
C. Stainers
Red cotton bug
Dusky cotton bug
D. Foliage feeders
Semi-looper
Leaf roller
Spodoptera leaf worm
Gray weevil
E. Root / Stem feeder
Stem weevil
4. Jassids
Systemic position:
Scientific name : Amrasca biguttula biguttula (Ishida)
Family : Cicadellidae
Order : Hemiptera
Distribution:
All cotton growing areas. It
is also attacks on brinjal,
potato, lady’s finger and
sunflower..
ETL:
2-3 nymphs/leaf
5. Identification
Nymph: Light green, translucent,
wingless found between the veins
of leaves on the under surface.
Adult - Green, wedge shaped,
about 3.5 mm in length & two black
spot on each forewing and two
small black spots on the vertex.
Both nymphs and adults
move diagonally, when disturbed.
Adults and Nymphs
6. Biology
The female leaf hopper inserts about
15 eggs inside leaf veins and the
Incubation period ranges from 4 to 11
days. The nymphal period occupies 7 -
21 days.
Nymphs found in large numbers on
lower surface of leaves.
The whole life cycle is completed in
about 20-30 days. There are 8-10
overlapping generations.
Active period: July-Nov.
7. Nature and symptom of Damage
Tender leaves become yellow.
The margin of the leaves start curling
downwards and reddening.
In the case of severe infestation,
leaves get a bronze or brick red colour
which is typical “hopper burn” symptom
The margin of the leaves get broken &
crumble into pieces when crushed.
Nymphs & adults suck the sap.
Also inject a toxin through saliva into the
plant tissue, resulting in hopper burn
8. Management practices
Seed treatment with imidacloprid 70 WS at 7 g/kg
protect the crop upto 8 weeks.
Early sowing and closer spacing of cotton.
In sevear condition, apply neem oil formulation 0.5 %
thrice at fortnightly intervals
Spray any one of the insecticides (500 L fluid/ha)
• Imidacloprid 200 SL at 100 ml/ha
• Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml/ha
• Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml/ha
• Phosphamidon 40 SL 600 ml/ha
• Monocrotophos 36 SL 1000 ml/ha
• NSKE 5% 25 kg/ha
9. Aphids
Systemic position:
Scientific name : Aphis gossypii (Glover)
Family : Aphididae
Order : Hemiptera
Distribution:
It has a world wide
distribution. It attacks on
Okra/brinjal/guava/gingelly etc.
ETL:
10% affected plants
10. Identification
Adult is small, soft, greenish brown in colour. They are
characterized by the presence of two tubes like
structures called cornicles, on the abdomen. They are
wingless normally but winged forms are often found
mostly in the beginning and towards the end of season.
Wings are thin, transparent and are held like a roof over
the body.
Nymphs are light yellowish green or
brownish or greenish black in colour.
11. Biology
Female may parthenogenetically give birth to 8 –
22 nymphs/day, which become adults in 7 – 9
days.
There are four instars.
It is found in colonies of hundreds on the tender
shoot and the undersurface of tender leaves.
Life cycle completed in 10-15 days and 8-10
overlapping generation found in cropping season.
Active period: July-Feb.
12. Nature and symptom of Damage
Infesting tender shoots and
under surface of the leaves.
Curling and crinkling of leaves
Stunted growth
Blighted appearance when
infestation is severe
Development of black sooty
mould due to the excretion of
honey dew giving the plant a
dark appearance.
Damage during severe drought conditions.
Nymphs & adults suck the sap.
13. Management practices
Seed treatment with imidacloprid 70 WS at 7 g/kg
protect the crop upto 8 weeks.
Monitoring the activities of the alate adult by setting up
yellow sticky traps
Spray any one of the insecticides (500 L fluid/ha)
Imidacloprid 200 SL at 100 ml/ha
Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml/ha
Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml/ha
Phosphamidon 40 SL 600 ml/ha
Monocrotophos 36 SL 1000 ml/ha
NSKE 5% 25 kg/ha
14. White fly
Systemic position:
Scientific name : Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)
Family : Aleyrodidae
Order : Hemiptera
Distribution:
It is widely distributed in
India and particularly
serious on cotton and
brinjal.
ETL:
5-10 adults & nymphs
before 9 a.m.
15. Identification
Eggs are stalked light yellow in the
beginning but turn brown later on.
Nymph : Greenish yellow, oval in
outline.
Pupa: oval in shape, present on the
under surface of the leaves.
Adult - Minute insects with yellow
body covered with a white waxy
bloom.
Active period: Sep.-Oct.
16. Biology
A single female lays about 70 stalked eggs singly on
the undersurface of leaves, mostly on the top and
middle leaves of plant.
The insect can often breed parthenogenetically.
Egg period ranges from 3-33 days.
The nymphs remain stationary once they settle down.
Nymphs moult thrice.
Nymphal period lasts for 9-18 days.
The pupal period 2-8 days.
Total life cycle completed in 14-107 days.
There are 12-14 overlapping generations in a year.
17. Nature and symptom of Damage
Chlorotic spots on the leaves.
Severe infestation results in
premature defoliation
Development of sooty mould
Shedding of buds and bolls and
poor boll opening
It also transmits the leaf curl virus
diseases of cotton.
18. Management practices
• Adopting crop rotation with non-preferred hosts such as
sorghum, ragi, maize etc.,
• Removal and destruction of alternate weed hosts.
• Preferably wider spacing and judicious application of
recommended dose of fertilizers
• Late sowing may be avoided and the crop growth
should not be extended
• Cultivation of most preferred alternate host crops like
brinjal, bhendi, sunflower may be avoided
• Set up yellow pan traps and sticky traps @ 12/ ha
19. Spray any one in early stage (500 L fluid/ha)
•Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml or
•phosphamidon 40 SL 600 ml/ha
Spray any one in mid/late stages (1000 L liquid/ha)
Phosalone 35 EC at 2.5 l/ha
Quinalphos 25 EC at 2.0 l/ha
Monocrotophos 36 SL 1.25 l/ha
Triazophos 40 EC 2.0 l/ha
Acephate 75 SP 1.30 kg/ha
Note: Cypermethrin, fenvalrate and deltamethrin cause
resurgence of whiteflies. So avoid repeated spraying of
pyrethroids.
20. Thrips
Systemic position:
Scientific name : Thrips tabaci (Lind.)
Family : Thripidae
Order : Thysanoptera
Distribution:
Onion and garlic, amaranthus,
guava, solanaceous and
groundnut, chilies,, bhendi etc
ETL:
10% affected plants
21. Identification
Eggs kidney shaped.
Nymphs - Very minute, slender,
yellowish and microscopic.
Pupa brownish color.
Adult - Small, slender, yellowish to
brown with fringed wings. Males
are wingless and females are
winged with hairs present on the
both margin of wings.
22. Biology
Female can lays 70-100 eggs at the
rate of 3-5/day..
Periods of :
eggs : 4-6 days
nymphs : 5-7 days
pupa; 4-6 days and
adult : 15-28 days
Total life cycle completed in 25-45 days
and 4-5 generation can be found in one
year.
Active period: Sep.-Oct.
23. Nature and symptom of Damage
Shriveling of leaves due to
scrapping of epidermis and
desapping.
Attacked terminal buds.
Silvery shine on the undersurface
of leaves
Distorted & wrinkled seedling
24. Management practices
Seed treatment with imidacloprid 70 WS at 7 g/kg
protect the crop upto 8 weeks.
Spray any one of the insecticides (500 L fluid/ha)
• Imidacloprid 200 SL at 100 ml/ha
• Methyl demeton 25 EC 500 ml/ha
• Dimethoate 30 EC 500 ml/ha
• Phosphamidon 40 SL 600 ml/ha
• Monocrotophos 36 SL 1000 ml/ha
• NSKE 5% 25 kg/ha
25. Red cotton bug
Systemic position:
Scientific name : Dysdercus cingulatus (Glover)
Family : Pyrrhocoeidae
Order : Hemiptera
Distribution:
It has a world wide
distribution. It attacks on
cotton and brinjal.
ETL:
5 bugs/plants
27. Biology
Active period: Nov.-March
Each females lay eggs 100-130.
Eggs period: 7-8 days.
Nymphal period lasts for 5-7 days.
Nymphs goes into five molts and fully
developed in to adults in 15-18 days.
Total life cycle completed in 50-90 days.
28. Nature and symptom of Damage
Red stained lint and rotting bolls.
Inner boll wall with warty growth or
water soaked spots
Young bolls abort and turn dark
brown `
The bacterium Nematospora
gossypii enters the site of injury and
stains the fibre.
30. Mealy bug
Systemic position:
Scientific name: Phenacoccus solenopsis (Tensly)
Family : Psedococcidae
Order : Hemiptera
Distribution: It attacks also on
sugercane, mango.
Identification:
white body and talk powder
like dust sprayed all over body
ETL:
5% affected plants
31. Nature and symptom of Damage
Heavy clustering of mealy bugs
usually seen under surface of
leaves as a thick mat with waxy
secretion.
Excrete copious amount of honey
dew on which the fungus sooty
mould grow.
Affected plants appear black,
resulting reduced fruiting
capacity.
Mealy bugs on stem
33. Mirid bugs
Systemic position:
Scientific name : Campylomma livida (Reuter)
Family : Pentatomidae
Order : Hemiptera
Distribution:
It attacks on sesame and
cotton.
ETL:
10 bug/plants
35. Nature and symptom of Damage
Both nymph and adult suck the sap on terminal
growth, squares, bolls and flowers
Parrot breaking of boll due to
mirid damage
36. American boll worm
Systemic position:
Scientific name : Helicoverpa armigera (Hubnner)
Family : Noctuidae
Order : Lepidoptera
Distribution:
It has a world wide
distribution. It attacks on
Okra/brinjal/guava/gingelly etc.
ETL:
1-2 larva/mrl
37. Identification
• Eggs - Spherical in shape and creamy
white in colour, present singly.
• Larva - Shows colour variation from
greenish to brown.
• It has dark brown grey lines on the
body with lateral white lines and also
has dark and pale bands.
38. • Adult
• Light pale brownish
yellow stout moth.
• Forewings are olive
green to pale brown in
colour with a dark brown
“V” shaped spot in the
centre.
Hind wings are pale
smoky white with a broad
blackish outer margin.
• Pupa - Brown in colour, occurs
in soil, leaf, pod and crop debris
39. Biology
The egg period lasts for 2-4 days.
The larval period lasts for 18-25 days.
The full grown caterpillar pupates in the
soil in an earthen cell and emerges in 16-21 days.
Adults live upto 4-5 days
Total life cycle completed in 35-55 days and 2-3
generation in one cropping season.
Active period: Aug.-Oct.
40. Nature and symptom of Damage
Bolls showing regular, circular bore holes
Larvae seen feeding on the boll by
thrusting their heads alone inside and
leaving the rest of the body outside
Presence of granular faecal pellets
outside the bore hole.
A single larva can damage 30-40 bolls.
Circular bore hole
41. Pink bollworm
Systemic position:
Scientific name: Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders)
Family : Gelechidae
Order : Lepidoptera
Distribution:
It has a world wide
distribution.
ETL:
10% affected bolls
42. Identification
Eggs: white rounded
Larva
• Shows colour variation young larva
brown to pale or pink
• Several dark and light alternating
bands running the entire length
Pupa : redish colour
Adult
•Small moth.
•Forewings are brown or dull yellow
olive grey with dark spots on the
forewing.
Hind wings margins are deeply
fringed.
43. Biology
Active period: Oct.-Nov.
Each females lay eggs on young leaf and bolls
about 15 days old.
Eggs period: 3-6 days.
larval period lasts for 9-14 days.
Pupal period : 8-14 days.
Adult female long lived upto 56 days as compare
to 20 days of male.
Total life cycle completed in 21-48 days.
44. Nature and symptom of Damage
• Rosetted flowers
• The holes of entry plugged by
excreta of larvae which are feeding
inside the seed kernels.
• They cut window holes (interlocular
burrowing) in the two adjoining
seeds thereby forming "double
seeds"
• The attacked buds and immature
bolls drop off.
• Larva feed the seed.
• Discolored lint.
45. Spotted bollworm
Systemic position:
Scientific name: Earias Spp. (vittella & insulana) (Feb.)
Family : Noctuidae
Order : Lepidoptera
Distribution:
It has a world wide
distribution. It attacks on
Cotton and Okra.
ETL:
10% attacked shoots or reproductive parts
46. Identification
• Eggs: spherical blueish green, sculptured.
E. vittella
• Larva - Brownish with white streaks dorsally
and pale yellow ventrally.
Adult - Forewings are pea green with a wedge
shaped white band running from base
to out margin
E. vitella
47. • E. insulana
• Larva – Brown with dorsum
showing a white median
longitudinal streak.
• The last two thoracic segments
and all the abdominal segments
have two pairs of fleshy tubercles
(finger shaped processes).
• Pupa - Brown and boat shaped.
• Adult - Forewings are uniformly
silvery green
E. insulana
48. Biology
Active period: Sep.-Jan.
Females deposits 2-3 eggs on leaf axils and total
385 eggs lays.
Eggs period: 3 days.
larval period lasts for 10-12 days.
Pupal period : 7-10 days.
Total life cycle completed in 20-22 days.
49. •Flaring up of bracts during
square and young boll
formation stage
•Drying and drooping of
terminal shoots during pre –
flowering stage
•Shedding of squares and
young bolls
•Holes on bolls and rotting of
bolls.
Nature and symptom of Damage
Drying - terminal shoots
Bore holes and rotting
Flared square
50. Management practices
• Avoid continuous cropping of cotton both during winter and
summer seasons in the same area.
• Removal and destruction of crop residues to avoid carry
over of the pest to the next season.
• Optimizing the use of nitrogenous fertilizers which will not
favour the multiplication of the pest.
• Planting trap crop of Okra, uprooting and burning.
• Application of Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) at 3 x 10
12 POB /ha in evening hours at 7th and 12th week after
sowing.
51. Management practices
• Inundative release of egg parasitoid, Trichogramma
spp., at 6.25 cc/ha at 15 days interval 3 times from 45
DAS
• Releasing predator Chrysoperla carnea @ 1,00,00/ha
at 6th, 13th and 14th week after sowing.
• During bolling and maturation stage, apply any one
insecticides (1000 L fluid/ha):
Phosalone 35 EC 2.5 l/ha
Quinalphos 25 EC 2.0 l/ha
Carbaryl 50 WP2.5 kg/ha
Pyraclofos 50 EC 1.5 l/ha
52. Leaf worm (Tobacco caterpiller)
Systemic position:
Scientific name : Spodoptera litura (Feb.)
Family : Noctuidae
Order : Lepidoptera
Distribution:
World wide and Poly-phagous.
ETL:
2 larva/mrl
53. Identification
Egg - Laid in masses which
appear golden brown
Larva - Pale greenish with
dark markings.
Pupa - Pupates in soil with
radish colour
Adult
• Forewings – brown colour
with wavy white marking
• Hindwings- white colour
with a brown patch along the
margin
54. Biology
Active period: July-Nov.
Female lays 5-6 egg clusters of 150-200 eggs.
Incubation period is 5-9 days.
Larvae undergo five instars in an average 22-30
days to become full grown.
Pupa period 8-10 days
Adult live upto 4 days &
Total life completed in 45 days.
55. Nature and symptom of Damage
Scrapping the epidermal layer,
leaving the skeleton of veins of leaf
During severe attack, only the
stem and side shoots will be
standing in the field without any
leaf or bolls
Larvae feed the leaves by making
small holes. Skeletonized leaf
56. Management practices
Use of light trap
Set up the sex pheromone trap Pherodin at 12/ha
Growing castor along border and irrigation bunds.
Removal and destruction of egg masses/larva.
Collection and destruction of sheded plant parts.
Spraying NPV at 1.5 x 10-12 POB per ha.
Spray any one of the following insecticides
chlorpyriphos 20 EC 2.0 l/ha;
dichlorvos 76 WSC 1 lit/ha;
fenitrothion 50 EC @ 625 ml.
58. Identification
• Adult - pale reddish brown
moth with hind distal end of
half moon shaped margin.
• Eggs blue greenish round,
about 0.9 mm, convex on the
upper & concave below.
• Larvae Green, 3.5 mm long
(newly hatch).
Full grown larva 60 to 70 mm
long, and white line on dorsal
surface, two tubercules in the
anal region
• Pupa: Pupation takes place
in the folded leaves on the
plant.
59. Nature and symptom of Damage
• Damage to defoliation.
• Older larvae-voracious feeders and bore stems
Active period: Aug.-Sep.
60. Leaf folder
Systemic position:
Scientific name : Sylepta derogata (Feb.)
Family : Pyraustidae
Order : Lepidoptera
Distribution:
Cotton, Paddy, Castor.
ETL:
10% affected plants
61. Identification
The brownish – orange moth
On forewing Two dark wavy lines and
One on hind wing.
Both wings have a dark brown to grey
band on their outer margin.
Larva:
Greenish translucent
Egg – Long bottle in shape
and white in colour.
Newly formed pupa is light
brown, but turns reddish brown
in later stage.
62. Biology
Active period: Aug-Sep.
Eggs incubation period is 4 - 7 days.
The pale yellowish green larva becomes full grown
in 15 - 27 days and pupates inside the leaf roll.
Pupal period is 6 - 8 days.
Adult life span 3-5 days.
Total life-cycle varies from 25 - 42 days.
63. Nature and symptom of Damage
Leaves fold longitudinally and
larvae remains inside.
Larvae scrapes the green
tissues of the leaves and
becomes white and dry.
64. Management practices
• Hand picking of older larvae during early
stages.
• Releasing Trichogramma sp. @ 50000/ha.
• The larvae are heavily parasitized by a
braconid parasite, Microplitis Maculipennis.
• Manipulate parasitic activity by avoiding
chemical spray.
• NSKE 4%.
• Bacillus thuringiensis 1-2%
• Quinolphos 2ml or Chlorpyriphos 2ml / L
water.
65. Cotton Stem Weevil
Systemic position:
Scientific name : Pempheres affinis (Faust)
Family : Curculionidae
Order : Coleoptera
Distribution:
cotton growing area.
ETL:
10% gall affected plant
66. Identification
• Larva - Grub, white in colour without
leg (apodous)
• Adult - Small weevil, dark in
colour with small white
patches on the elytra
67. Nature and symptom of Damage
•Swellings on the stem just above the
ground level.
•Young plants are invariably killed
•Older plants that survive, lack vigor
and strength, and when strong winds
blow, these plants sometimes break at
the nodes.
Stem gall
Grub
68. Management practices
•Soil application of Carbofuran 3 G at 30 kg or
Aldicarb 10 G at 10 kg/ha may be done on 20 days
after sowing and earthed up.
•Basal application of FYM 25 t/ha or 250 kg/ha of
neem cake.
69. Dusky cotton bug
Systemic position:
Scientific name: Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (Costa)
Family : Oxycarenidae
Order : Hemiptera
70. Identification
•Eggs - Cigar shaped, pinkish
eggs in clusters of 2-10 within
the half opened bolls, on the
bolls, flower or buds
•Nymphs and adults - Dusky,
greyish brown bug, with
pointed head and hyaline
wings
71. Nature and symptom of Damage
•Sucks the sap from developing seeds in open
bolls and stains the lint black.
•Seeds discolored and shrunken.
Management practices
•Spray phosphamidon 100 EC@250 ml/ha
73. Nature and symptom of Damage
•Leaf margins notched
•Wilting of plants in patches
•Plants come easily when pulled
•Roots eaten away by grubs.
Management practices
•Remove the affected branches / plants & destroy.
Spraying of quinalphos or chlorpyriphes 0.05%.
74. Mites
Systemic position:
Scientific name : Tetranychus macfarlanei
Family : Tetranychidae
Order : Acarina
Distribution:
The mite is a polyphagous and infest on 183 species
of plants including cucurbits, brinjal and bhendi on which it
is sometimes very serious.
75. Identification
Adult female body is oval and is variable in colour i.e.,
red, rusty green and with two large pigmented spots on
the body.
Nymph is light brown in colour and has two eye spots
and four pairs of legs and quite active.
Biology
It is active from March – October.
It lays 60-80 eggs. Egg period lasts 2-6 days.
Nymphs grow to maturity in 2 stages within 4-9 days and
adults live for 9-11 days. Total life cycle in active period
takes 9-19 days.
76. Nature and symptom of Damage
Both nymphs and adults cause damage by feeding on
the lower surface of the leaf underneath a web.
The infested leaves rapidly curl up, become hard and
crisp and ultimately shed.
Bolls ripen prematurely and in serious infestation shed.
Mite infestation begins in the seedling stage and
extends to harvest.
MANAGEMENT: Foliar sprays with sulphur 50 WP 3 g/l
or dicofol 5 ml/l
