Ex. No. 3.

IDENTIFICATION OF SYMPTOMS OF DAMAGE AND LIFE STAGES

OF PESTS OF MAIZE, SORGHUM AND PEARL MILLET

PESTS OF MAIZE

S. No Name of the pest Scientific name Family Order

Borers
1. Stem fly Atherigona orientalis Muscidae Diptera
2. Stem borer Chilo partellus Crambidae Lepidoptera
3. Pink stem borer Sesamia inferens Noctuidae Lepidoptera
Defoliators
4. Fall army worm Spodoptera frugiperda Noctuidae Lepidoptera
5. Cut worm Mythimna separata Noctuidae Lepidoptera
6. Web worm Cryptoblabes gnidiella Crambidae Lepidoptera
(Pyraustidae)
7. Ash weevil Myllocerus sp. Curculionidae Coleoptera
8. Phadka grasshopper Hieroglyphus Acrididae Orthoptera
nigrorepletus
Sucking Pests
9. Leafhopper Pyrilla perpusilla Lophopidae Hemiptera
10. Aphid Rhopalosiphum maidis Aphididae Hemiptera
11. Shoot bug/Corn lantern Peregrinus maidis Delphacidae Hemiptera
bug
Cob Feeders
12. Corn worm/ Earworm Helicoverpa armigera Noctuidae Lepidoptera
BORERS

1. Stem fly: Atherigona orientalis, Muscidae; Diptera

• Maggot feeds on the young growing shoots resulting in “dead hearts”.
• Small grey coloured fly.
2. Stem borer: Chilo partellus, Crambidae; Lepidoptera
• It infests the crop a month after sowing and upto emergence of cobs. Central shoot withering
leading to “dead heart” is the typical damage symptom. Bore holes visible on the stem near
the nodes.
• Young larva crawls and feeds on tender folded leaves causing typical “shot hole” symptom.
Affected parts of stem may show caterpillars tunnelling internally.
• Adult moth is medium size, straw coloured. It lays flat oval eggs in batches on the under
surface of leaves near the midribs. Larva is yellowish brown with a brown head which mines
the midrib, enter the stem and feeds on the internal tissues.
3. Pink stem borer: Sesamia inferens, Noctuidae; Lepidoptera
 • Pink larva enters into the stem causing “dead heart” symptom similar to that of stem borer.
Adult moth is straw coloured moth with white wings.
• Larva is pinkish brown with dark head. Life cycle is completed in 45‐75 days. There are
4‐6 generations per year.
DEFOLIATORS
4. Fall army worm: Spodoptera frugiperda, Noctuidae; Lepidoptera
 An invasive pest native of United States of America, noticed since July 2018 in different
states including Tamil Nadu and Karanataka. The occurrence of the pest has been reported
from Erode, Karur, Salem, Dindugul and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu in maize crop.
 This pest is considered as a polyphagous pest attacking several economically important
crops such as maize, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, wheat, cowpea, groundnut, cotton, etc.
 The adult moths lay their eggs as egg masses in the inner whorls of the plants from which
the youg larva emerges out and feed on the open leaves by scrapping the upper epidermis
leaving a silvery transparent membrane. Later, the larva enters into the whorl and start
feeding between the leaves. Within the whorls, one or two larvae are found feeding resulting
in accumulation of frass inside the whorl. Continuous feeding in the whorl results in dead
heart symptoms. Incidence during early stages of the crop (25 days old) increases the
mortality of the plants.
 Black headed first instar larva emerges out which turn greenish with interspersed black
markings. Late instar larva are with dull grey head and dull green body with lateral white
lines. The mature larva has a white inverted “Y” mark on the head. Arrangement of black
spot is trapezoidal in 8th and square shaped in 9th abdominal segments. Pupation occurs in
the soil. Male moth with conspicuous white patch at apical margin of the forewing while the
patch is absent in female moths.
4. Cut worm: Mythimna separata, Noctuidae; Lepidoptera
• Larva feeds on leaves irregularly.
• Adult is brown coloured moth with white hind wings. Larva is light yellowish green.
5. Web worm: Cryptoblabes gnidiella, Crambidae (Pyraustidae); Lepidoptera
• Larva first feeds on the lemma of the flowers scraping the chlorphyll and later on the milky
grains. Caterpillar causes damage by constructing webs on maize cobs and feeding on the
flowers and the grains.
• Eggs are laid singly on spikelets and grain. The full‐grown larva is 12 mm long and dark
brown. It forms silken webs on cobs and remains inside them and pupates within.
• Adult is 7 mm across wings with dark grey forewings.
6. Ash weevil: Myllocerus sp., Curculionidae; Coleoptera
• Larva feeds on the secondary roots while adults feed on leaves.
• Adult is grey coloured weevil. Larvae and pupae are in soil.
7. Phadka grasshopper: Hieroglyphus nigrorepletus, Acrididae; Orthoptera
• Leaves defoliated from the margin; plants often bared.
• Nymph and adults have green and brown forms. The brown being the most common form.
Both have a conspicuous irregular black dorsal pronotal stripe. Adults are mostly
brachypterous. Eggs are laid one by one.
SUCKING PESTS
8. Leafhopper: Pyrilla perpusilla, Lophopidae; Hemiptera
• Yellow leaves, covered with black sooty mould and top leaves gets dried up.
• Nymph is soft pale brown dorsally and pale orange ventrally with two characteristic anal
filaments.
• Adult is soft, straw coloured with the head pointing forward as snout. Wings fold over the
abdomen like hood. They are densely veined and transparent.
9. Aphid: Rhopalosiphum maidis, Aphididae; Hemiptera
• They infest tender shoots and under surface of the leaves. They occur in large numbers, suck
the sap and cause stunted growth, gradual drying and result in death of the plants. Development
of black sooty mould due to the excretion of “honey dew” gives the plant a dark appearance.
• Aphids are greenish brown, soft bodied and small insects. The alate as well as apterous females
multiply parthenogenitically and viviparously. Yellowish or greenish brown nymphs found
on the undersurface of leaves. They are often attended by ants for the sweet honey dew
secretion. Winged forms may be seen under crowded conditions.
10. Shoot bug/Corn lanthern bug: Peregrinus maidis, Delphacidae; Hemiptera
• Injury to the plants is caused by adults and nymphs sucking sap from them. Attacked plants
become unhealthy, stunded and yellow. Leaves wither from top downwards. Panicle
formation is inhibited and the plants die if attack is severe.
• Honeydew secreted by the bug causes growth of sooty mould on leaves.
COB FEEDERS
11. Corn worm/Earworm: Helicoverpa armigera, Noctuidae; Lepidoptera
• Larva feeds on silk and developing grains.
• Adult is brown coloured moth with a ‘V’ shaped speck on fore wings and dull black border on
the hind wing. Larva is green with dark broken grey lines and dark pale bands shows color
variation greenish to brown.
II. PESTS OF SORGHUM

S. No Name of the pest Scientific name Famil Order

y
Borers
1. Shoot fly Atherigona soccata Muscidae Diptera
(Atherigona varia soccata)
2. Stem borer Chilo partellus Crambidae Lepidoptera
3. Pink stem borer Sesamia inferens Noctuidae Lepidoptera
Defoliators
4. Slug caterpillar Thosea aperiens Cochlididae Lepidoptera
5. Leaf roller Marasmia trapezalis Pyralidae Lepidoptera
6. Flea beetle Monolepta signata Chrysomelidae Coleoptera
(Galerucidae)
7. Red hairy caterpillar Amsacta albistriga Erebidae Lepidoptera
A. moorei (Arctiida)
 8. Weevils Myllocerus maculosus Curculionidae Coleoptera
M. discolor
9. Leaf beetle Cryptocephalus schestedti Chrysomelidae Coleoptera
(Cryptocephalidae)
10. Wingless Colemania sphenarioides Acrididae Orthoptera
grasshopper
Sucking pests
11. Shoot bug Peregrinus maidis Delphacidae Hemiptera
12. Plant lice (Aphids) Rhopalosiphum maidis Aphididae Hemiptera
Earhead feeders
13. Earhead bug Calocoris angustatus Miridae Hemiptera
14. Mirid bug Creontiades pallidifer Miridae Hemiptera
15. Sorghum midge Stenadiplosis sorghicola Cecidomyiidae Diptera
(Contarinia sorghicola)
16. Gram caterpillar Helicoverpa armigera Noctuidae Lepidoptera
17. Semilooper Autoba silicula (Eublemma Noctuidae Lepidoptera
silicula)
18. Plant bug Dolycoris indicus Pentatomidae Hemiptera
19. Stink bug Nezara viridula Pentatomidae Hemiptera
20. Earhead web worm Cryptoblabes gnidiella Crambidae Lepidoptera
(Pyraustidae)
BORERS
1. Shoot fly: Atherigona soccata (Atherigona varia soccata), Muscidae; Diptera
• Maggot on hatching migrates to the upper surface of leaf and enters between the leaf sheath and
stem. After reaching the soil level, the maggot bores inside the stem and cuts the growing
point resulting in the drying “dead heart” symptom. Infested plant produces side tillers.
Attack is severe during summer in Coimbatore and the infestation goes up to 86 per cent.
• Adult, a whitish grey female fly lays the eggs on the lowers surface of leaf blades mostly
during morning hours. Egg is white, cylindrical, distal somewhat flattened. Maggot is dirty
white and apodous.
2. Stem borer: Chilo partellus, Crambidae; Lepidoptera
• It infests the crop a month after sowing and upto emergence of earheads. Central shoot
withering and leading to “dead heart” is the typical damage symptom. Bore holes are visible
on the stem near the nodes. Young larva crawls and feeds on tender folded leaves causing
typical “shot hole” symptom. Affected parts of stem may show internally tunneling
caterpillars.
• Adult moth is medium size, straw coloured. It lays about 300 scale like flat oval eggs in batches
on the under surface of leaves near the midribs. Larva is yellowish brown with a brown head
and prothoracic shield measures about 25 mm long. It pupates inside the stem.
3. Pink stem borer: Sesamia inferens, Noctuidae; Lepidoptera
• Pink larva bores into stem and damage central shoots by producing the dead hearts.
• Adult moth is straw coloured moth with white wings. Larva is pinkish brown with dark head.
 Eggs are bead like laid in rows within the leaf sheath and usually 30-100 per batch. Life cycle
is completed in 45-75 days. There are 4-6 generations per year.
DEFOLIATORS
4. Slug caterpillar: Thosea apierens, Cochlididae; Lepidoptera
• Irregular feeding and defoliation are the symptoms of attack.
• Adult is brown stout moth with a pair of white bands on forewings. Larva is green with stinging
hairs.
5. Leaf roller: Marasmia trapezalis, Pyralidae; Lepidoptera
• Leaves are folded longitudinally especially near the tips and drying of leaves from the tip.
• Adult is small yellow coloured moth. Wings are greyish with three dark transverse stripes and
a dark wide sub terminal band. Larva is pale greenish yellow with conspicuous setae. Head
and thoracic shield are reddish brown in colour.
6. Flea beetle: Monolepta signata, Chrysomelidae (Galuricidae); Coleoptera
• Small holes on leaves. Black beetle with long antennae and four pale yellow spots on elytra.
7. Red hairy caterpillar: Amsacta albistriga, A. moorei, Erebidae (Arctiidae); Lepidoptera
• Larvae feed on the leaves gregariously by scraping the under surface of tender leaflets leaving
the upper epidermal layer intact in early stages. Later, they feed voraciously onthe leaves
and main stem of plants. They march from field to field gregariously. Severely affected
field looks as if grazed by cattle. Adults are medium sized moths.
• In A. abistriga forewings are white with brownish streaks all over and yellowish streaks along
the anterior margin and hind wings are white with black markings. A yellow spot is found on
the head.
• In A. moorei all markings are red in white wings. It lay eggs on the under surface of the leaves.
Tiny greenish caterpillar feeds on the leaves gregariously. A fully grown larva measures about
5 cm in length reddish brown hairs all over the body arising on warts. The grown up larva
pupate in earthern cells at a depth of 10-20 cm.
8. Weevils: Myllocerus maculosus and M. discolor, Curculionidae; Coleoptera
• Leaf margins are notched resulting in wilting of plants in patches. Plants come off easily when
pulled. Roots are eaten away by grubs. Adult feeds on leaves.
• M. maculosus - Adult weevil with greenish white elytra having dark lines.
• M. discolor- Adult weevil a brown with white spot on elytra. Grub is small, white apodous
found feeding on roots.
9. Leaf beetle: Cryptocephalus schestedti, Chrysomelidae (Cryptocephalidae); Coleoptera
• Small holes on the leaves.
• Yellow beetle with long black streaks.
10. Wingless grasshopper: Colemania sphenarioides, Acrididae; Orthoptera
• Defoliation is the symptom of damage. Nymphs feed on growing plants and adults feed on
florets and ears.
• Adult grasshopper is wingless, greenish yellow with blue-black antennae with purple band
from behind the eye and laterally on thorax. It lays eggs in batches in the soil at a depth of
6 cm during October and November. Eggs hatch in June and July during monsoon rain.
SUCKING PESTS
11. Shoot bug: Peregrinus maidis, Delphacidae; Hemiptera
• Injury to the plants is caused by adults and nymphs sucking sap from them. Attacked plants
become unhealthy, stunted and yellow. Leaves wither from top downwards. Panicle formation
is inhibited and plants die if attack is severe. Honeydew secreted by the bug causes growth of
sooty mould on leaves. The midribs of the leaves turn red due to egg laying and may dry up
subsequently.
• Adult is yellowish brown to dark brown with translucent wings. Brachypterous female is
yellowish while macropterous female is yellowish brown and male dark brown. It lays eggs
in groups of 1-4 inside the leaf tissue and covered with a white waxy substance.
12. Plant lice (Aphids): Rhopalosiphum maidis, Aphididae: Hemiptera
• Yellowing of leaves, colonies of aphids found in central leaf whorl.
• Adult is yellow coloured with dark green legs.
EARHEAD FEEDERS
1. Earhead bug: Calocoris angustatus, Miridae; Hemiptera
• Adults and nymphs damage earheads by feeding on them. They suck the juice from the grains
when they are in the milky stage. Sucked out grains, shrink and turn black in colour and ill‐
filled (or) chaffy.
• Large number of orange and pale green nymphs and adults are seen on earhead. Adult male is
green in colour and female is green with a brown margin. Blue cigar shaped eggs are laid
under glumes or into middle of the florets. Nymphs are slender, green in colour.
2. Sorghum midge: Stenadiplosis sorghicola (Contarinia sorghicola), Cecidomyiidae; Diptera
• Maggots feed on the developing grains and pupates there. White pupal cases protruding out
from the grains and chaffy grains with holes are the symptoms of damage.
• Adult fly is small, fragile with a bright orange abdomen and a pair of transparent wings. It lays
eggs singly in developing florets resulting in pollen shedding.
3. Gram caterpillar: Helicoverpa armigera, Noctuidae; Lepidoptera
• Larvae hide within the earheads and feeds on the grains. Earheads are partially eaten with
chalky appearance. Fecal pellets are visible within the earheads.
• Adult is brown coloured moth with a ‘V’ shaped speck on forewings and dull black border on
the hind wing. Larva is green with dark broken grey lines and dark pale bands. It shows colour
variation of greenish to brown.
4. Stink bug: Nezara viridula, Pentatomidae; Hemiptera
• Grains become chaffy or spotted black and shriveled. A stinking smell emanates from bug.
• Adult is green in colour. Nymph is brownish red with multi colour spots.
5. Earhead web worm: Cryptoblabes gnidiella, Crambidae (Pyraustidae); Lepidoptera

• Larva remains in the rachis, web the adjacent grains and feed on them. It occurs on sorghum
and maize ears.
 • Adult moth is small with brown fore wings and light brown hind wings. It lays eggs singly
on spikelets and grain. Larva is light brown with dark head and dark lateral lines on the body.
It constructs silken cocoon and pupates within.

III. PESTS OF PEARL MILLET (Cumbu/Bajra)

S. No Name of the pest Scientific name Family Order
Borers
1. Shoot fly Atherigona approximata Muscidae Diptera
2. Stem borer Chilo partellus Crambidae Lepidoptera
3. Pink stem borer Sesamia inferens Noctuidae Lepidoptera
Defoliators
4. Leaf beetle Oulema downsei Chrysomelidae Coleoptera
(Lema downsei) (Galerucidae)
5. Black hairy caterpillar Estigmene lactinea Erebidae Lepidoptera
(Arctiidae
)
6. Wingless grasshopper Neorthacris simulans Acrididae Orthoptera
Earhead Feeders
7. Grain midge Geromyia penniseti Cecidomyiidae Diptera
8. Semilooper Autoba silicula Noctuidae Lepidoptera
(Eublemma silicula)
9. Stink bug Nezara viridula Pentatomidae Hemiptera
BORERS

1. Shoot fly: Atherigona approximata, Muscidae; Diptera

• A serious pest on cumbu in Tamil Nadu during cold weather season. It attacks the crop
both in seedlings and boot leaf stage. It causes dead hearts in young plants and chaffy
grains in tip and well developed grains in the lower portion of earheads in mature crop.
This is known as cork screw symptom.
• Adult is greyish white fly.
2. Stem borer: Chilo partellus, Crambidae; Lepidoptera
• It infests the crop a month after sowing and upto emergence of earhead. Central shoot
withering resulting in “dead heart” is the typical damage symptom. Bore holes visible on
the stem near the nodes.
• Young larva crawls and feeds on tender folded leaves causing typical “shot hole”
symptom. Parts of stem may show caterpillars tunneling internally.
 3. Pink stem borer: Sesamia inferens, Noctuidae; Lepidoptera
• Pink larva enters into the stem causing dead heart symptom.
• Adult moth is straw coloured with white wings. Larva is pinkish brown with dark head.
DEFOLIATORS
4. Leaf beetle: Oulema downsei (Lema downsei), Galerucidae; Coleoptera
• Grubs and adults scrape the chlorophyll. It results in withering and drying of leaves
leading to burnt up appearance.
• Grub is whitish with a small black head and swollen humped body. It has the habit of
carrying its fecal matter dorsally. Adult is straw coloured beetle.
5. Black hairy caterpillar: Estigmene lactinea, Erebidae (Arctiidae); Lepidoptera
• Larva feeds on leaves voraciously and causes severe defoliation. Adult is large white
moth with crimson markings on head, body and wings. Larva is thick with black
head and hairs.
6. Wingless grasshopper: Neorthacris simulans, Acrididae; Orthoptera
• Both nymphs and adults feed on leaves and cause defoliation.
• Greenish brown in colour with red stripe on the sides without wings.
EARHEAD FEEDERS
7. Grain midge: Geromyia penniseti, Cecidomyiidae; Diptera
• Maggot feeds on developing grains causing grainless glumes with white pupal case
attached to the tip of the spikelet.
• Adult is a light pink fragile fly.
8. Semilooper: Autoba silicula (Eublemma silicula), Noctuidae; Lepidoptera
• Extensive webbing of grains and presence of broken grains on the earhead.
• Adult moth is small with reddish buff coloured wings having wavy lines. Eggs are
laid on spikelet and grain. Larva is pale yellow semilooper. It pupates within the
gallery.
9. Stink bug: Nezara viridula, Pentatomidae; Hemiptera
• Grains are chaffy or spotted black and shrivelled. A stinking smell emanates from bug.
• Adult is green in colour. Nymph is brownish red with multi colour spots.
Questions
1. Give in brief about the recent invasive pest of maize with its systematicposition
2. Expression of dead heart symptom in 2 weeks old sorghum crop. Identify the pest
with its systematic position.
3. List out the borer pests of maize
4. Write the causative organism for dead heart in two months old maize crop
5. Which pest is responsible for shot hole symptom in maize/ sorghum?
6. Which pest induces sooty mold fungal development in sorgum?
7. Write the symptoms of damage by corn earworm
8. List out the defoliators of sorghum
9. Chaffy grains with holes in individual grains of sorghum. Name the pest with
systematic position.
10. Name the mirid bug infesting sorghum earhead
11. What is cork screw symptom in cumbu?
12. Wrie the systematic position of wingless grasshopper infesting pearl millet?
 Ex. No. 4. IDENTIFICATION OF SYMPTOMS OF
DAMAGE AND LIFE STAGES OF PESTS
OF WHEAT, FINGER MILLET AND TENAI
PESTS OF WHEAT
S. No Name of the pest Scientific name Family Order
Borers
1. Wheat shoot fly Atherigona simplex Muscidae Diptera
A. oryzae
2. Pink stem borer Sesamia inferens Noctuidae Lepidoptera
Defoliators
3. Cut worm Pseudaletia (Mythimna) Noctuidae Lepidoptera
separata
Agrotis ipsilon
4. Yellow hairy caterpillar Psalis pennatula Erebidae Lepidoptera
(Lymantriidae)
5. Ash weevils Myllocerus maculosus Curculionidae Coleoptera
M. discolor
Earhead Feeders
6. Plant bug Dolycoris indicus Pentatomidae Hemiptera
7. Red spotted bug Menida histrio Pentatomidae Hemiptera
Sucking pests
8. Thrips Anaphothrips sudanensis Thripidae Thysnaoptera
9. Aphids Macrosiphum miscanthi Aphididae Hemiptera
Rhopalosiphum maidis
Schizaphis graminum
Melanaphis sacchari
10. Leafhopper Pyrilla perpusilla Lophopidae Hemiptera
Subterranean pests
11. Termite Microtermes obesi Termitidae Isoptera
Odontotermes obesus
1. Wheat shoot fly: Atherigona simplex and A. oryzae, Muscidae; Diptera
• Maggot enters at base of stem, punctures laterally, feeds on tissues inside stem, cuts
growing point leading to "dead heart" symptom.
• Adult fly is small and grey in colour. Eggs are laid singly or in short rows at the base
 of stem or on lower leaves. Newly hatched maggot moves towards leaf sheath, bores
into stem and destroy growing point
2. Pink stem borer: Sesamia inferens, Noctuidae; Lepidoptera
• Pink larva enters into the stem and causes dead heart symptom.
• Adult moth is straw coloured with white wings. Larva is pinkish brown with dark head
3. Cut worm: Mythimna separata and Agrotis ipsilon, Noctuidae; Lepidoptera
• Young caterpillars cut leaves in central whorl and feed voraciously and migrate from
one field to another. Severe attack leads to complete defoliation and infestation on
earhead including awns and immature grains.
• Mythimna seperata: Larva is light yellowish green. Adult moth is pale brown and
stout with white hind wings
• Agrotis ipsilon: Larvae are black in colour with pale mid dorsal stripes and head is pale
brown in colour. Adult fore wing is pale brown with dark purplish brown along costal
and towards base. Hind wing is white with brown tinge. Male is with bipectinate
antenna and female is with filiform antenna
4. Yellow hairy caterpillar: Psalis pennatula, Erebidae (Lymantriidae); Lepidoptera
• Caterpillar causes defoliation.
• Caterpillar is yellowish brown with red stripes and orange head and tufts of hairs all
over the body of which two in the anterior and one in the posterior regions are
prominent. It pupates in a pale white cocoon of silk and frass attached to the leaf.
• Adult moth is stout with straw coloured forewings. It lays eggs in masses on leaves.
5. Ash weevils: Myllocerus maculosus and M. discolor, Curculionidae; Coleoptera
• Leaf margins are notched resulting in wilting of plants in patches. Plants come off
easily when pulled. Roots are eaten away by grubs. Adult feeds on leaves.
• M. maculosus ‐ Adult weevil with greenish white elytra having dark lines.
• M. discolor‐ Adult weevil a brown with white spot on elytra. Grub is small, white
apodous found feeding on roots.
6. Plant bug: Dolycoris indicus, Pentatomidae; Hemiptera
• Grains become chaffy or spotted black and shriveled.
• Brown coloured bug with a white patch on the scutellum.
7. Red spotted bug: Menida histrio, Pentatomidae; Hemiptera
• Both nymphs and adults suck the earheads and cause individual grains chaffy.
• Orange coloured adults and dark brown nymphs are bserved on the earheads.
8. Thrips: Anaphothrips sudanensis, Thripidae; Thynaoptera
• Leaves are with characteristic silvering due to the attack of insect especially under
dry and yellowing of leaves.
• Adults are tiny yellow or black with fringe winged.
9. Aphids: Macrosiphum miscanthi, Rhopalosiphum maidis, Schizaphis graminum and
Melanaphis sacchari, Aphididae; Hemiptera
 • Nymphs and adults desap tender leaves and shoots in early stage and get confined to
ears. Sooty mould develops on ears and grains.
• Rhopalosiphum maidis: Nymphs and adults infest unfurled central leaves and cause
yellowing discolouration. Adult is yellow with dark green legs
• Schizaphis graminum: Nymphs and adults suck the sap and cause yellow patches on
leaves. Sooty mould develops on leaves due to honeydew secretion by the nymphs and
adults.
• Melanaphis sacchari: Cream coloured nymphs and adults desap tender leaves and
shoots in early stage and get confined to ears. Sooty mould develops on ears and grains.
10. Leafhopper: Pyrilla perpusilla, Lophopidae; Hemiptera
• Yellow leaves, covered with black sooty mould. Top leaves get dried up and lateral
buds germinate.
• Nymph is soft pale brown dorsally and pale orange ventrally with two characteristic
anal filaments.
• Adult is soft, straw coloured with the head pointing forward as snout. Wings fold
over the abdomen like hood. They are densely veined and transparent.
11. Termite Microtermes obesi and Odontotermes obesus, Termitidae; Isoptera
• Termite damage starts soon after sowing and continues till the growing stage. Leaves
of damaged plants droop down which later wither and dry. Such plants are easily
uprooted.
• Microtermes obesi: These termites are cream colored with dark head. Workers more
active in the morning and evening.
• Odontotermes obesus: Cream or white coloured tiny insects resembling ants with
brown coloured head.

PESTS OF FINGER MILLET (Ragi)

S. No Name of the pest Scientific name Family Order
Borers
1. Pink stem borer Sesamia inferens Noctuidae Lepidoptera
2. White borer Saluria inficita Pyralidae Lepidoptera
(Phycitidae)
Defoliators
3. Cut worm Spodoptera exigua Noctuidae Lepidoptera
4. Flea beetle Chaetocnema pusaensis Chrysomelidae Coleoptera
(Alticidae)
Earhead Feeders
5. Earhead caterpillars Sitotroga cerealella Gelechiidae Lepidoptera
Root Feeders
6. Root aphid Tetraneura nigriabdominalis Aphididae Hemiptera
7. Root grub Holotrichia consanguinea Melolonthidae Coleoptera
 BORERS
1. Pink stem borer: Sesamia inferens, Noctuidae; Lepidoptera
• Pink larva enters into the stem and causes dead heart symptom.
• Adult moth is straw coloured with white wings. Larva is pinkish brown with dark head.
2. White borer: Saluria inficita, Pyralidae (Phycitidae); Lepidoptera
• A potential pest on finger millet in South India. Larva bores into the stem at the base
of the tiller close to the soil level and causes dead heart.
• Adult is small moth with dark brown forewings, a white band along anterior margin
and white hind wings. Larva is creamy white with yellow head.
DEFOLIATORS
3. Cut worm: Spodoptera exigua, Noctuidae; Lepidoptera
• Larva defoliates in nursery. It also attacks onion, brinjal, cotton, cowpea, chillies, daincha.
• Moth is brown coloured with white hind wings. It lays eggs in groups in plants. Larva
is nocturnal in habit. It is brownish green with wavy lines on the dorsal surface and
yellow stripes laterally. It pupates in earthern cocoons.
4. Flea beetle: Chaetocnema pusaensis, Chrysomelidae (Alticidae); Coleoptera
• Adult beetles cause small holes in the leaves of young plants.
• Adult is a dark blue beetle with enlarged hind femur.
EARHEAD FEEDERS
5. Earhead caterpillars: Sitotroga cerealella, Gelechiidae; Lepidoptera
• Larva feeds on the developing grains.
• Larva is stout and yellowish‐white, head is small and yellowish‐brown and retracted
into the thorax. Full grown caterpillar is about 5.0 mm long. It eats out a small channel
to the outside of the seed leaving, however, a thin layer of the coat intact.
• Adult moth is small in size measuring 1/2 inch in wing span. They are grey or yellowish
brown in colour, with satiny luster with narrow, pointed hind wings, bearing wide
fringes of hairs.
ROOT FEEDERS
6. Root aphid: Tetraneura nigriabdominalis, Aphididae; Hemiptera
 Aphid remains at the base of the plant and suck the sap. Infested plants turn pale yellow
and become stunted. Wilting and drying of plants in patches is the typical symptom. Black
ants attend them for honeydew and their presence confirm the root aphid attack. It occurs
on many grasses too.
• Aphids are pinkish and globular, and reproduce viviparously.
7. Root grub: Holotrichia consanguinea, Melolonthidae; Coleoptera
• Grubs feed on roots and results in the death of the grown up plants.
 • Grub is fleshy, ‘C’ shaped, whitish yellow in colour found close to the base of the
clump. Adult is dark brown.
•
PESTS OF TENAI
S. No Name of the pest Scientific name Family Order
1. Stem borer Anadastus parvulus Languriidae Coleoptera
2. Stem fly Atherigona destructor Muscidae Diptera
3. Cutworms/ True army Pseudaletia (Mythimna) Noctuidae Lepidoptera
worm separata
4. Ash weevils Myllocerus dentifer Curculionidae Coleoptera
5. Planthopper Peregrinus maidis Delphacidae Hemiptera
6. Earhead bug Leptcorisa acuta Alydidae Hemiptera
7. Black bug Scotinophara coarctata Podopidae Hemiptera

1. Stem borer: Anadastus parvulus, Languriidae; Coleoptera

• Grubs bore into stem and cause dead heart or drying of ears.
• Adult feeds on leaves and stem of the plant
• Adult is small, narrow, elongate with reddish pronotum and deep blue green or
black elytra
2. Stem fly: Atherigona destructor, Muscidae; Diptera
• Maggot gradually slides through the leaf lamina and reaches the growing point of
the stem and starts damaging the meristamatic tissue of the plant
• The damage of this pest is observed from sowing to six weeks of old crop.
• As result of it’s feeding the central shoot starts drying and shows the typical
symptoms of dead heart in the early stage and profuse tillering in the later stage.
• Damaged tillers may produce earheads, but with no grains (white ears). Maximum
incidence occurs during late July or early August.
3. Cutworms: Pseudaletia (Mythimna) separata, Noctuidae; Lepidoptera
• Larva attacks tender shoots and defoliate.
• Larva is light mauve brown in colour, marbled orange‐brown, with lateral and
subspiracular, yellowish, longitudinal bands each edged white and containing the
orange brown marbling.
• Adult forewing is pinkish buff, with a straight brownish streak running from the
apex obliquely to the postmedial row of dots.
4. Ash weevils: Myllocerus dentifer, Curculionidae ; Coleoptera
• Leaf margin notched, wilting of plants in patches, plants come off easily when
pulled and adult feed on leaves.
• Grub is small, white apodous and feeds on roots.
5. Planthopper / shoot bug: Peregrinus maidis, Delphacidae; Hemiptera
• Yellowing of leaves, red mines on mid rib, stunted growth, twisted top leaves,
 choking of ears and presence of ants.
• Both nymphs and adults suck the sap from leaves
• Brachypterous females are yellowish and macropterous females are yellowish
brown in colour. Males are dark brown.
6. Earhead bug: Leptcorisa acuta, Alydidae; Hemiptera
• Plants tend to produce under‐developed or damaged rice grains. In severe cases, the
infected plant may not produce rice grains. Nymph and adult sucking the milky sap
causes ill filled or partially filled or chaffy grains.
• Early instar nymph is small, 2 mm long, pale green in colour, which turns deep
brown through different instars.
• Adult is greenish yellow, long and slender with characteristic buggy odour.
7. Black bug: Scotinophara coarctata, Podopidae; Hemiptera
• Both nymphs and adults feed at the base of the plant where they suck plant sap from
the culms during tillering to flowering. It also sucks the sap from leaf sheath, leaves
and panicles.
• Affected plants turn reddish brown or yellow. During tillering stage, causes drying up
of central shoots (dead hearts), stunted growth and reduced tillers. During reproductive
stage, affects the panicle development and causes chaffy grains (white ears). In severe
cases, plants wilt, dry and turn bug burned, similar to hopper burn damage of brown
planthopper.
• Adults are brownish black bugs with a prominent scutellum and pronotum having a
spine on either side. Eggs are laid in masses of varied number on the stem as well as
on leaves. Eggs are greenish in colour when laid and turn pinkish during hatching and
measure 1 mm long.
• Nymphs are brown with yellowish green abdomen with 2-3 black scent glands.
Questions
1. Name the shoot fly species infesting wheat
2. Name the species of weevil infesting wheat crop
3. Name the different species of aphids infesting wheat
4. Write in brief about the termite damage in wheat
5. Name the cut worm species attacking wheat
6. Name the root damaging insect pests of ragi
7. Name the noctuid stem borer causing damage in ragi
8. Write about the black bug infesting tenai
9. Name the coleopteran stem borer attacking tenai
10. Describe the symptoms of damage caused by tenai stem fly
11. Name the flea beetle infesting ragi with its systematic position
12. Name the Gelechiid insect causing damage in ragi earheads