4. Castor capsule borer: Conogethes punctiferalis (Pyraustidae: Lepidoptera)

Distribution and status: South India (Major)
Host range: Cardamom, castor, jack, guava

Damage symptoms
Larva bores into the young fruits which dry up and fall prematurely, bore holes plugged with excreta.

Bionomics 

Eggs laid on top leaf axils, inflorescence, tender part of plant and fruits, egg period 6-7 days. Larva pale reddish brown with numerous tubercles on body. Larval period 12-16 days. Pupation inside the fruit in a silken cocoon, pupal period 4-11 days. Medium sized bright orange-yellow color has numerous f black dots on wings. Life cycle completed in 25-33 days.

Management

• Collect and destroy the damaged plant parts.
• Use light trap 1/ha to monitor the activity of adults.
• Spray malathion 50 EC at 3 L or endosulfan 3 L or dimethoate 30 EC 3 L in 1500 – 2000 L water per ha, two rounds, one at flower formation and next at fruit set.