Legume pod borer   (Maruca vitrata)

Identification

The moth lays yellow, oval eggs in small batches, commonly on terminals. The larva 14 mm long, is whitish-green with rows of conspicuous black spots on the dorsal surface. However, the spots are not clearly on the yellowish-green prepupae.  Larvae feed from inside a webbed mass leaves, buds and pods.

Management

• Deep summer ploughing,  clean cultivation  and crop rotation  reduce pest population

• Use resistant varieties.

• Fix bird perches in the field attract predatory birds.

• Spray with 5% of crude neem seed extract serves as effective anti-feedant.

• Need based application of insecticide e.g. endosulfan.