Aphid- Aphis gossypii

Aphid- Aphis gossypii

Cotton aphid: Aphis gossypii: Aphididae: Homoptera.

ü  Polyphagous pest-wider host range.

ü  Both nymph and adult infest the tender portions of the plants in colonies.

ü  Very small brownish green, soft bodied insects. Males are winged; in females both winged and wingless forms are found.

ü  The females are parthenogenetic and viviparous. One female can produce 8-22 nymphs during their life span of 7-9 days.

ü   The leaves become curled up, the young shoot fades gradually and whole plant becomes very much stunted. Sooty mould on plant.

Invited Lecture at M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation at Poombukar

Entomology Society for Innovation- Invited lecture by Dr Sidhanandham

ESI- Inaugural function,2012 

Pot Culture Yard and Screen house

Pot Culture Yard and Screen house, Department of Entomology,Faculty of Agriculture,Annamalai University, Annamalainagar. 

Rice Swarming Caterpillar

Swarming Caterpillar- Spodoptera mauritia: Noctuidae:Lepidoptera

Rice Stem borer

Rice Stem Borer - Scirpophaga incertulas

1.   Yellow rice borer:Scirpophaga incertulus: Pyraustidae : Lepidoptera

ü  Specific pest of rice, which infests the crop at all growth stages, from seedling to flowering.

ü  Adult lays 200-300 eggs in 2-3 compact masses on the leaf tip and covers the egg masses with buff-colored anal hairs.

ü  Larva: pale yellowish white in color, smooth with a well developed prothoracic shield.

ü  Mature larva covers the exit hole with a web of fine silken cocoon. The pupa is dark brown in color.

ü  The female moth has bright, yellowish brown forewings with a minute, distinct, black spot on each and an anal tuft of buff-colored or yellowish hairs. Male: pale yellow forewings and without black spot.

ü  The larva bores into the stem, above the water level and eats the inner tissues, leading to wilting and finally death of central shoot. This is referred as dead heart. It can be pulled out easily. White ear: white colored, chaffy ear heads.

Egg mass

Symptom : Dead Heart

Symptom: White ear

Adult