PESTS OF FINGER MILLET :: Minor Pests :: Earhead Caterpillers

7. Earhead caterpillars:  Sitotroga cerealella (Gelechiidae: Lepidoptera)

It is a major stored product pest. Under field conditions larvae feed on the developing grains.

Management of finger millet pests

1. Spray any one of the following insecticides mixed in 10 lit. of water using a high volume of sprayer if dusting is not done to protect the seedling in the nursery - methyl demeton  25 EC 20 ml and dimethoate 30 EC 20 ml. 
2. Spray any of the following insecticides per ha for the control of stemborer, leaf feeder -  endosulfan 35 EC 1000 ml and carbaryl 50 WP 1 kg.
3. Spray carbaryl 50 WP 1 kg/ha at milky stage to check ear head bug and ear head caterpillars.