Vantika Tech

Borer Symptoms, Identification, and Management in Gram Crop

We are growing many crops and a farmer puts him all efforts to get the best quality with high production. But due to the insect pest attack, weeds, disease a farmer has to face damage in production as well as quality.

Insect in Gram

In this article we read about the borer problem in grams, maybe in red gram, green gram, black gram borer is the major problem in grams. Mainly the borers are three types who cause more damage.
1. Gram Pod Borer (Helicoverpa armigera)

2. Spiny Pod Borer(Etiella zinckenella)
3. Spotted Pod Borer(Maruca testulalis).

Let's Discuss their symptoms of damage.

Due to borer defoliation in early stages or dropping of flowers and young pods.
Their Larva’s head inside and the rest of the body hanging out the pods.
Pods with round holes on buds, flowers or pods.
They Infest pods as well as flowers.
In spiny pod borer older pods marked with a brown spot where a larva has entered

Identification of Insects

Borer

1. Gram Pod Borer (Helicoverpa armigera)- They are spherical in shape and color variation from greenish to brown where mark brown-grey lines laterally on the body. They occur in soil, leaf, pod and crop debris. An Adult insect has brownish-yellow stunt moth and v-shaped forewings grey to pale brown.
2. Spiny Pod Borer(Etiella zinckenella)- They are greenish-white and turns nearly pink before pupation. They have brownish-grey moth, prothorax is orange, forewings have a white stripe along the anterior margin.
3. Spotted Pod Borer(Maruca testulalis)- They are greenish-white with a brown head. An adult has light brown color white marking forewings.

Management of Borer in Gram

By deep summer ploughing in 2-3 years to eliminate quiescent pupa.
Farmers can grow early sowing, short-duration varieties.
Farmers can avoid closer plant spacing and can grow sorghum as comparison crops to serve as biological bird perches.
Farmers can use the pheromone traps 5-7 traps/ha for each insect pest or can also install Bird perches @ 50/ha.
Also, control by a chemical method by any one of the following insecticides:
Dimethoate 30% EC 1000 ml/ha
Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC 150ml/ha
Spray insecticide Quinalphos 25 EC @ 1000 ml/ha
Also, can use 25 kg/ha quinalphos 4D, carbaryl 5D
Phosalone 0.07% (Spray fluid 625 ml/ha)

Note: When the activity of the coccinellid predator (both grubs and adults) is seen, insecticide application should be avoided.

Bonus Tip-

Borer needs warm weather conditions followed by light rains and dry spells for multiplication.

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