PESTS OF MORINGA :: MAJOR PESTS :: BUD WORM

Distribution and status: Major pest in South India
Host range: Moringa

Damage symptoms :  Larvae bore into flower buds and cause shedding of buds up to 75%. Generally, infested buds contain only one caterpillar. Damaged buds seldom blossom; fall down prematurely Activity is more during summer months in South India.

Noorda moringae

Bionomics : Adult is small in size with dark brown fore wings and white hind wings with dark brown border. It lays oval, creamy white eggs in clusters or singly on flower buds. Caterpillars are dirty brown with a prominent mid-dorsal stripe and black head and prothoracic shield. Full-fed caterpillars come out or pupate in minute brownish cocoons, either in soil or on ground itself, below dried leaves and debris. Egg, larval and pupal periods occupy respectively 3-4, 8-16 and 6-10 days.

Management

1. Plough around trees to expose and kill pupae
2. Collect and destroy damaged buds along with caterpillars
3. Use light traps to attract and kill adults @  1-2 /ha
4. Spray carbaryl  50 WP 1.0  kg or malathion or endosulfan 1.0 L in 500 - 750 ml of water per ha.