Species:
 
Spodoptera litura (Fabricius)
   
Common name:
 
taro catterpillar
   
cluster caterpillar
   
common cutworm
   
cotton leafworm
   
cotton worm
   
tobacco caterpillar
   
Damaging stage:
 
Larvae
   
Crops Affected:
 
Cucurbits, solanaceous, legumes, brassicas, cotton, tobacco, onion
   
Characteristic Damage:
 
Newly hatched larvae attack their hosts  in cluster and feed gregariously by scraping the leaf surface.
   
Larvae move and feed on the other leaves making large irregular holes and may leave only the veins.
   
High infestation results to severe defoliation.
   
Management and Control:
 
Monitor the area regularly.
   
Hand pick the larvae to reduce the population.
   
Remove weeds and volunteer plants that may serve as alternate hosts.
   
Cultivate the soil by plowing and harrowing and use plastic mulch to minimize pupation in the soil.
   
Plant trap crops like sunflower, taro or castor plants around the area.
   
Use of pathogens like the nuclear polyhedrosis virus and entomopathogenic fungi Aspergillus flavus, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae to reduce cutworm population.
   
Apply botanical insecticide like neem extract.
   
Apply lamda-cyhalothrin, tebufenozide and fipronil when necessary.
   
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spodoptera_litura
http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/44520
http://wiki.bugwood.org/Spodoptera_litura

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