Pests Of Jatropha
Jatropha Curcas is getting significance commercially as the demand of fossil fuels increases greatly and likewise Jatropha is an environment-friendly energy plantation. Plantation of this plant is considered to be an outstanding fuel alternative and it is also very economical compared to other fuels. Recently, jatropha curcas is dealing with some difficulty with insects and illness. The insects are categorized into two varieties: Pest that affect young plants and Pest that affect developed plants.
Young plant bugs: Cutworm, Scarabeid Beetle, Army worm, Grasshopper.
Agrotis ipsilon: It is commonly referred to as Cut worm. This insect affects the seedlings and young Jatropha plants. If the plant is impacted by the cutworm, the stem gets cut nearer to the soil surface area and this will diminished the plant totally.
Control: This bug can be controlled by choosing the larva found around the plants or by mixing the bran, sawdust with insecticides.
Scarabaeid Beetle: This bug ruins the root of the young plant. Initially, the larva takes in the organic matters present in the soil and then concerns the root. The larva attack might kill the entire plant.
Control: The plant with great resistance power can overcome the bug. For heavy attack, insecticides with parts carbosulfan and carbofuran can be used to kill the insect.
Army worm: Spodoptera litura presence can be identified by biting in the leaves. The severe infection might completely kill the plants.
Control: Insecticides are used to control the bugs.
Grasshopper: This prevails pest found in numerous plants. Valanga nigricornis and Locusta migratoria widely assaults the plant. The insect often assaults the young plant.
Control: The insecticides used betacyfluthrin, cypermethrin, thiodicarb, MIPC, and fipronil.
Pest observed in mature plants:
Pest of Stem: Ostrinia furnacalis, Xyleborus spp.
Ostrinia furnacalis and Xyleborus: This insect damages the jatropha curcas stem and it is extensively seen in Indonesia. The stem attacked by this bug usually drop. The presence can be identified by the larva penetration hole at the stem.
Control: The Insecticide usually utilized to manage this insect is carbofuran.
Pest of leaf: The common insects observed are leaf caterpillar, Neetle caterpillar, Leaf hopper, Mite, Ear corn caterpillar.
Leaf Caterpillar: This pest can consume all the leaves of the plant in brief duration. The quality and yield of the seeds get reduced due to the heavy attack.
Control: This can be managed by choosing the old larvae around the surface area and getting rid of the attacked leaves.
Needle Caterpillar: This caterpillar is covered with spinal columns and produces a burning feeling when allowed to to skin as it produces specific chemical substance. Initially the bug crowded in the leaf and then spread all over the plant when it gets older.
Control: Manually, the pest can be killed just by soaking it in water or kerosene. The heavy attack can be managed by spraying organophosphate insecticides.
Leaf Hopper: This pest is discovered mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. The bug targets the leaf and sucks all the nutrients of the leaf and gets curls at the idea. Later, the entire leaf dry and pass away.
Control: The heavy attack can be managed by utilizing insecticides like imidachloprid, beta cyfluthrin or carbosulfan.
Mite: Mite also attacks the leaf and makes the whole plant weak. The pest existence can be identified when the leaf become yellow-colored, diminishes, turns red and drop. The insect can also be spread through fallen leaves.
Control: Some preventive measures can be done like proper sanitation and burning the fallen leaves. Heavy attack can be treated by spraying insecticides.
Some dreadful pest which assaults flower and fruit are, Stink bug (Nezara viridula)
Chrysocoris javanus, Tip borer caterpillar.
Stink Bug: Sting bug is a serious insect which assaults the plant throughout bloom duration so the crop yield totally falls down. This insect is seen around the tropical region.
The hazardous enzyme in the plant shrinks the whole plant.
Control: Insecticides recommended for this insect is chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, alfamethrin, and lamda cyhalothrin.
Tip borer caterpillar: The pests commonly takes place attacks the plant in flowering season and this pest is seen widely in tropical regions. The female bug laid the eggs on the tender part of the plant and the young larvae feed the young fruits and plant ideas.
Control: Manually, the attacked seeds are advised to burn. The insecticides like monocrotophos and bensultap are sprayed at the blooming season.